Gladys Shollei Reveals 267 Cancer-Causing Fertilizers in Kenya, Claims She Received Death Threats
Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei disclosed on Tuesday that she had submitted a petition calling on the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary to appear before Parliament and explain why 267 carcinogenic fertilizers remain available in Kenya.
Addressing the National Assembly, Shollei also demanded the dismissal of Pest Products Control Board members for neglecting their duty to protect public health.
Her argument was supported by research from 20 scientists at the University of Nairobi, which verified the presence of dangerous products in the Kenyan market.
“A document known as the Pesticide Atlas, developed by 20 University of Nairobi scientists, confirmed that 267 pesticides banned in the US and Europe are still sold in Kenya,” she asserted.
“I have formally requested the Agriculture Minister to remove the Pest Products Control Board members from their positions due to their failure to safeguard Kenyan lives.”
Shollei also pointed out that one of the banned products, Roundup, had been rebranded and was still being sold in Kenya.
Previously, Shollei mentioned that her efforts to remove harmful products from the market had resulted in death threats from powerful agrochemical companies.
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“The agrochemical companies we are up against are very influential,” she noted.
“While I was campaigning against these products, I received death threats. It’s a matter of significant financial interests, and without parliamentary action, people will continue to suffer from cancer and other serious diseases.”
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She emphasized that in countries where these fertilizers are produced, their sale is prohibited.
For example, a US farmer who developed cancer after using Roundup fertilizer was awarded $250 million in damages from the manufacturer.
“The Health Committee’s decision on my petition was that the Pest Products Control Board should take action to remove these products from the market, but they have not done so,” she continued.
In April, the government canceled KEL Chemicals’ trading license following accusations of selling substandard fertilizers to farmers.
The cancellation came after a thorough inspection by then Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, who visited the company’s facilities. Some farmers reported that the fertilizers stunted their crops.
Gladys Shollei Reveals 267 Cancer-Causing Fertilizers in Kenya, Claims She Received Death Threats
