Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya director Anne Maina and Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu during the signing of the MoU to lobby for safe farming practices /ALICE WAITHERA

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Laikipia county government has partnered with a lobby group to promote safe and sustainable farming practices.

Move comes as it moves to address rising health concerns linked to agro-chemical use.

The partnership has seen the county government sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya (BIBA) and other stakeholders.

This is as it seeks to accelerate the adoption of agroecology and reduce reliance on harmful synthetic farm inputs.

Governor Joshua Irungu said the MoU signifies a joint commitment to safeguard farmers’ health, restore soil quality and promote environmentally sustainable food systems.

The development comes amid growing alarm over a surge in cancer cases and other chronic illnesses in the county, which leaders have linked to prolonged exposure to farm chemicals.

Irungu said health facilities in key tomato-growing zones are recording unusually high numbers of cancer patients, alongside a notable rise in individuals seeking renal care in referral hospitals in Nanyuki and Nyahururu.

“We are seeing more of our people walk into hospitals in need of dialysis. These are not just statistics; they are members of our families whose lives are disrupted in very painful ways,” the governor said.

He warned that overreliance on agro-chemicals could be silently driving a public health crisis as more residents require expensive healthcare.

The governor called for evidence-based research to establish a clear link between agricultural inputs and emerging diseases, noting that the trend raises critical questions about current food production methods.

In response, the county has rolled out a farmers’ sensitisation campaign to caution against unsafe handling and overuse of pesticides and other chemicals.

“We must ask ourselves difficult but necessary questions. Are the methods we are using to grow our food slowly harming us? We need clear answers grounded in research,” said the county boss.

He spoke during a sensitisation forum on the Agroecology Bill in Nanyuki.

The initiative is also tied to ongoing efforts to enact the Laikipia Agroecology Bill, which aims to institutionalise safer farming practices, promote organic alternatives and regulate the use of synthetic inputs.

According to BIBA director Ann Maina, the proposed law will provide a framework for transitioning to organic pesticides and environmentally friendly farming methods that protect soil health, biodiversity and human wellbeing.

“This partnership will help to upscale agroecology, protect biodiversity and advance food sovereignty. It’s a shared responsibility to restore dignity to farming, empower communities and safeguard our environment for future generations,” Maina said.

She noted that counties such as Makueni, Murang’a, West Pokot, Nakuru and Vihiga have already enacted similar legislation.

Data on agro-chemical use in Kenya shows that pesticides are widely applied to crops such as maize, vegetables, potatoes and tomatoes under the regulation of the Pest Control Products Board.

However, studies indicate that some products containing toxic ingredients — many of which are banned in the European Union — are still in circulation, exposing farmers and consumers to significant health risks.

Research by the Environmental Working Group has identified fruits and vegetables as major pathways for pesticide exposure, with long-term contact linked to cancers, reproductive disorders and kidney and heart diseases.

Additional findings show that pesticide mixtures often contaminate soil and water systems, posing threats not only to human health but also to bees, fish and other essential organisms.

Locally, farmers are beginning to embrace the shift. Small-scale growers, including John Njoroge and Linet Auma, said the sensitisation forums have encouraged them to adopt organic farming methods, citing both health benefits and improved soil fertility.

“Organic foodstuffs are healthier and much cheaper to produce than conventional ones. Once I discovered this, my family rarely buys food in the market,” Njoroge said.

“We try to produce as much as possible for our needs.”

Residents, including about 40 persons with disabilities, have been sensitised on the Bill, with many welcoming the initiative as a timely intervention to protect vulnerable communities from harmful exposure.

A report by the Heinrich Böll Foundation confirmed that in 2020, Kenyan farmers spent about Sh10.6 billion ($72.7 million) on pesticides, applying over 3,000 tonnes of active ingredients.

About 63 per cent of products used are classified as highly hazardous, with the government banning 77 hazardous pesticide products and restricting the use of another 202 last year.