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{
    "id": 1460533,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1460533/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 85,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Uasin Gishu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gladys Boss",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I apologise for taking a second bite on this topic, but it is dear to my heart. The issue of carcinogenic pesticides and Round-Up herbicides is of significant concern to our country. This challenge is known in all levels of Government. The \"Pesticide Atlas\", a document developed by 20 scientists from the University of Nairobi, confirms that 267 pesticides banned in Europe and America are still in use in Kenya. The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) is responsible for approving pesticides and yet, banned pesticides are still on our list. The offender here is the Pest Control Products Board. I have submitted a Petition to the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock, requesting for the removal of the Pest Control Products Board from office due to their failure, which has endangered Kenyan lives. Furthermore, some products like Round-Up have been rebranded with different trade names in Kenya, and are still being sold in the country. In the United States, there was a significant case where a farmer developed cancer from using Round-Up, and the courts ordered a $250 million pay-out 20 years ago. That demonstrates how seriously this issue is taken in the United States. Unfortunately for us, companies like Doe in the United States and Bayer in Europe, are allowed to manufacture the pesticides but, not for use in their countries, but exports to careless and foolish enough to admit countries, Kenya being one of them. The resolution on my Petition by the Departmental Committee on Health was that the Pest Control Products Board should take measures to remove the said products from the market. However, they have failed to do so. Therefore, the Committee on Implementation should summon the Pest Control Products Board and the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development. The challenge is that the agro-chemical companies are extremely powerful, and when I rallied against those products, I received death threats. This is a big industry. If we do not act now, we will continue to kill our people. It has been confirmed that those pesticides cause cancer and other non-communicable diseases. I visited the Pest Control Products Board and begged them to remove those products from the market, but they claimed they needed to conduct more research. I told them that they did not need any extra research. If something is published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, it is a warning to all doctors across the world. I gave them the example of certain cough syrups The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}