The Pesi Farmers Cooperative Society in Aberdare sub-county, Nyandarua, has taken firm steps to regulate the use of farm chemicals among its members following widespread concern over the safety of potatoes grown in the region. This move comes in response to a recent report by Egerton University, which alleged that potatoes from Nyandarua contain residues of unauthorized and potentially harmful agrochemicals.
To protect the reputation of the county’s produce and maintain customer trust, the society — which has a membership of over 1,400 farmers — is now stocking only approved chemicals in its stores. Farmers are required to buy all chemical inputs through the cooperative to ensure strict compliance with agricultural safety standards. Speaking to the press, society chairman Francis Ngana said the cooperative is acting out of caution, even though the report remains contested. “We’re treating the allegations as unverified stories, but we have taken real action. Our farmers will no longer buy farm chemicals from unknown suppliers. If we lose consumer trust, the entire potato value chain is at risk,” he said.
The Egerton study warned that prolonged use of unregistered chemicals could pose serious health risks to consumers, including hormonal disruption, toxicity, and reduced nutritional value in tubers. Though the claims have sparked public debate, Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha has dismissed the report, terming it sensational and unscientific. “We have not received any formal or peer-reviewed report to justify these claims,” said the governor. “Our farmers follow strict guidelines, and Nyandarua remains a top producer of safe and high-quality potatoes.” Despite the governor’s reassurance, the cooperative has chosen to act proactively, citing the potential economic consequences if consumers begin to avoid Nyandarua produce.
In addition to the chemical safety concerns, the Pesi Farmers Cooperative is dealing with operational challenges caused by the theft of a Kenya Power transformer a month ago. The stolen transformer had powered a crucial milk cooling facility at Pesi trading centre, forcing the society to reroute milk collection to Shamata town, nearly 30 kilometres away. As a result, the society now incurs daily transport costs of around KSh10,000, a financial strain that has significantly affected profitability for local dairy farmers. “We urge Kenya Power to replace the transformer without delay,” Ngana said. “As a community, we will also take measures to ensure such theft doesn’t happen again.”
The power outage also delayed the launch of a newly constructed potato receipt store, which was intended to help farmers store their harvests while waiting for better market prices. With the facility idle and storage options limited, farmers remain at the mercy of volatile markets and exploitative brokers.
Further complicating matters is the poor condition of the five-kilometre earth road connecting Pesi to the Nyahururu–Nyeri highway. The road becomes nearly impassable during the rainy season, often leading to delays in transporting perishable produce such as milk and vegetables. Local farmer Susan Kimaru said the deteriorating road network has contributed to falling farm-gate prices, making it difficult for smallholders to break even. “A bag of potatoes is now selling for just KSh800 to KSh1,000. That barely covers our costs. When the road is bad, brokers take advantage and buy at throwaway prices,” she said. Ms Kimaru added that the area, which lies in Ndaragwa constituency, relies heavily on neighbouring Nyeri County for access to vegetable markets, increasing the burden of transport and exposing farmers to middlemen.
Meanwhile, Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho has criticized Kenya Power over what he described as a failure to secure critical infrastructure. He noted that a wave of transformer thefts has hit Nyandarua, including Ol Kalou, Ndaragwa, and even the outskirts of Nyahururu in Laikipia County. The MP suggested that the thefts appear to be coordinated and may involve insiders or former employees of the power utility company. “These are not petty vandals. The transformers are being removed with precision. We are closely monitoring individuals contracted by Kenya Power,” he said. Kiaraho warned that investigations were underway and that arrests are imminent. “Let those responsible know their days are numbered. Transformer theft affects hundreds of people. We fight hard to bring electricity to our communities, and we will not allow a few criminals to reverse that progress.”
Farmers in the area are now appealing for government support to restore electricity, improve roads, and protect the county’s agricultural reputation. According to Ngana, the community has done its part by regulating chemical use and improving compliance. Now, they hope national and county authorities will step in to address the remaining threats to their livelihoods. “We are doing our part. We need the government to support us with infrastructure and security so that our efforts are not in vain,” he said.
As the debate on chemical use in farming continues, stakeholders agree that urgent, coordinated action is needed to preserve both food safety and farmer incomes in Kenya’s agricultural heartland.
