Farm workers are falling sick in a Kenyan horticultural town. Were they poisoned by pesticides?
Timau’s industry has provided local Kenyans with an economic lifeline. But now, many believe it has made them seriously ill
TL;DR
- Reuben Muriki, a former pesticide sprayer in Timau, Kenya, has developed severe health issues including joint swelling, discolored skin, and breathing difficulties, which his mother attributes to pesticide poisoning.
- Muriki is among 87 individuals joining a court petition against the Kenyan government and agrochemical companies over the sale of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs).
- Scientists found high levels of paraquat and glyphosate in the urine samples of court case applicants, with Muriki's levels being significantly above reference limits.
- Common health issues reported by applicants include Parkinson's disease, throat inflammation, and pulmonary fibrosis.
- A significant portion of registered pesticide active ingredients in Kenya are classified as HHPs, with many banned in the EU due to health and environmental risks.
- Agrochemical companies like Bayer and Syngenta state their products are safe when used according to label instructions and comply with local regulations.
- The export of banned pesticides from the EU to Kenya and the presence of restricted ingredients in Kenyan produce exported to Europe have led to increased interceptions and economic losses for Kenya.
- Critics argue that Kenya has weaker legislation allowing the import of HHPs banned elsewhere, with farmers bearing the cost of failed export policies.
- The increasing diagnoses of blood and gastrointestinal cancers among farmworkers in Meru county raise concerns about potential links to pesticide exposure.