“Dawa ya Mende”: Police Arrest Unregistered Pest Control Traders in CBD

“Dawa ya Mende”: Police Arrest Unregistered Pest Control Traders in CBD

On Friday, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) initiated actions to eliminate the sale of unregistered pest control products to unsuspecting Kenyan consumers.

Police apprehended four individuals at the Tom Mboya monument on Moi Avenue in the heart of the city’s Central Business District, and authorities are now expanding their focus to additional locations.

The police alleged that the four individuals were involved in the sale of unregistered pesticides named Pest Max to unsuspecting Kenyan citizens.

“They were taken to custody at Central Police Station, as the seized products including the vehicle they were using were secured as exhibits,” the detectives stated.

On Monday, the four individuals accused will face arraignment and be charged for the sale of pest control products that are either illegal or not properly registered.

As per investigators, the suspects’ behaviors violate the provisions outlined in section 4(1) of the Pest Control Act, cap.346 Laws of Kenya.

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The legislation specifies that individuals are prohibited from importing or selling any pest control product in Kenya unless the product has undergone registration, packaging, and labeling according to the regulations established under the Act. Additionally, the product must comply with the standards outlined in those regulations.

As per the legislation, individuals convicted may face a monetary penalty ranging from a minimum of Ksh250,000 to a maximum of Ksh1 million.

The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) initiated a countrywide operation on February 7 to clamp down on the use of unregistered pesticides.

During a speech in Mombasa after apprehending illicit pesticides, Stanley Ng’ang’a, the branch manager of PCPB Mombasa, revealed that the organization would be implementing measures to address the potential presence of comparable products in the market.

“Yesterday we caught over 300,000 kg of illegal pesticides on their way to Kabati, Kenol. The importer did not have the necessary papers,” stated Ng’ang’a.

The enforcement action comes in response to concerns raised by Human Rights Watch regarding prohibited insecticides originating from European countries, which continue to enter the Kenyan market.

“Dawa ya Mende”: Police Arrest Unregistered Pest Control Traders in CBD