Kenyan Lawyer Accuses Multinationals of Pesticide 'Double Standard,' Demands Equal Safety for Africans
Kenyan Lawyer Accuses Multinationals of Pesticide 'Double Standard,' Demands Equal Safety for Africans
A landmark legal case in Kenya is challenging what advocates call a "double standard" in pesticide safety, as multinational companies continue exporting hazardous products to Africa that are banned in their own Western markets.
The firms' main defense is simply claiming the pesticides are "safe," despite evidence linking them to cancer in farming communities, Gilbert Njoroge, a High Court advocate leading the case, told Sputnik Africa.
The case has broader significance for establishing equality in how multinationals treat African markets, according to Njoroge.
"If you look at the Western market, they're more careful about what they put out... but when it comes to Africa there is absolutely no concern," he argued.
The lawyer issued a rallying cry for continental change, stating: "We are not second-class citizens of this world... We should make sure only what is good for us gets to our market."
The case seeks to ban hazardous pesticides and set a precedent for environmental justice and "equal treatment of Africans in the international market," he pointed out.
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