Tomato farmers in Nakuru have been warned against using an unregistered pesticide known as "Dudu Acelamectin," which authorities say poses unknown health risks to consumers and could expose suppliers to legal action.

This was revealed by Dr Paul Ngaruiya, the General Manager of Research Strategy and Planning at the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), during a press conference with journalists at their offices in Nakuru on January 19.

Dr Ngaruiya discloses that the illegal product has been found circulating in tomato farming communities across the country.

Dr Paul Ngaruiya, General Manager of Research Strategy and Planning at PCPB, during a press conference with journalists at their offices in Nakuru on January 19

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/MTAA WANGU

"Dudu Acelamectin is not a registered product for use in Kenya. Before any pesticide is allowed for use, it must undergo a rigorous registration process where PCPB evaluates several critical factors, including toxicity levels, usefulness to farmers, and residue levels on crops," Dr. Ngaruiya explains.

He emphasizes that the product in question has not undergone any of these essential evaluations in Kenya, meaning its effects on human health and the environment remain unknown.

"Anyone importing or distributing this product is endangering the lives of the public and making farmers use a product whose content is not well understood," he warns.

According to PCPB investigations, Dudu Acelamectin is mainly used for pest management in tomato crops. However, laboratory analysis conducted by the board's technical teams has revealed the presence of active ingredients that are not approved for use on vegetables and fruits in Kenya.

He reveals that the illegal pesticide is primarily being imported into Kenya from neighboring Uganda and Tanzania, making it difficult to trace and regulate.

"We want to make it clear that any product containing such illegal active ingredients will be impounded, and legal action will be taken against the offenders. To the suppliers supplying this product, we are coming for you," Dr. Ngaruiya warns.

This warning comes barely a week after the board impounded a large volume of public health products not authorized in the country, according to PCPB.

PCPB staff display the impounded unregistered products at their offices in Nakuru after a January 16 raid

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/ MTAA WANGU

Two persons involved have been arraigned in court, says Lawrence Kalawa, General Manager of Compliance and Enforcement at PCPB.

The impound happened on January 16 around the ChinaMart area, where goods worth Sh 500,000 in street value and weighing 300kgs were seized.

According to PCPB, Nakuru West and East sub-counties are notorious hotspots for public health products (dawa ya mende, panya etc), while Rongai remains a hotspot for unregistered products.

PCPB staff display the impounded unregistered products at their offices in Nakuru after a January 16 raid

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/MTAA WANGU

In 2024, the board impounded about 640kgs of unregistered products across the county, however, in 2025, this figure dropped by approximately 25 percent to 480kgs.

The board warns users to only use products that have been registered by PCPB and have a registration number. Kalawa emphasizes that products should only be used for their registered purpose.

"If a product has a Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI) of 7 days - the mandatory waiting period in days between the last pesticide application and when a crop can be harvested - farmers should observe those days to ensure that there are no residues that can harm the consumers," he says, adding that instructions for use are provided in both English and Kiswahili.

- Lawrence Kalawa, General Manager of Compliance and Enforcement at PCPB South Rift Region during a press conference with journalists at their offices in Nakuru on January

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/ MTAA WANGU

Farmers who may have purchased or are using Dudu Acelamectin are advised to discontinue its use immediately and report any suspicious pesticide products to the nearest PCPB office or agricultural extension officer.

The PCPB continues to intensify surveillance and enforcement activities across the country to protect farmers and consumers from unregistered and potentially dangerous agricultural inputs.

Pest control products regulator issues alert over unregistered tomato pesticide in circulation

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Leleti Jassor