Eighty-seven people are seeking to join a court petition against the Kenyan government and agrochemical companies, challenging the sale of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). Many of these individuals, who worked in horticultural farms in and around Timau, central Kenya, believe their illnesses are a result of pesticide poisoning.
Reuben Muriki, 30, is one of the applicants. His mother believes his current condition, which includes swollen joints, discoloured skin, breathing difficulties, and cognitive impairment, resulted from spraying pesticides at a flower farm. Scientists working with the petitioners found nearly 200 times the reference limit for paraquat and 48 times the reference limit for glyphosate in his urine sample.
The petition, filed in 2022 by the African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action and lawyer Kelvin Kubai, accuses five agrochemical companies—Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, BASF, and Twiga Chemical Industries—of selling pesticides with lethal active ingredients in Kenya. Last November, the court allowed petitioners to invite affected individuals to join the case, aiming to make it a class-action lawsuit. A decision on whether to enjoin them is anticipated early next year.
Scientists hired by the petitioners tested all 87 applicants for paraquat and glyphosate, finding levels of both chemicals above permissible limits. The most common medical conditions presented by these individuals included Parkinson's disease, throat inflammation, and pulmonary fibrosis. Bayer and Syngenta have stated their products are safe when used according to label instructions and comply with regulatory standards.