A new investigative series by NTV Kenya alleges that extensive use of highly toxic farm chemicals in the Timau area of Meru County is causing a surge in cancer and other severe illnesses among farmers and their families. Reporters documented at least ten deaths attributed to cancer in the past few years, while five other residents are currently battling the disease. Interviews with affected families, including those of Lucy Makena, Francis Marete and others, detail repeated exposure to pesticides over decades. Long-time farmworker Charles Rutere reported nerve damage after 30 years of spraying, and John Kiunjuri said his hands began trembling in 1994 following prolonged contact with agro-chemicals. Another resident, Nancy Wambugu, has lost her eyesight and blames years of pesticide use. Legislator Gladys Boss told NTV that 44% of the pesticides circulating in Kenya are banned in Europe and several other markets, underscoring regulatory gaps that allow chemicals linked to cancer to remain widely available. Health officials have not yet issued a formal response to the findings, but local advocacy groups are urging the government to tighten import controls and expand medical screening in agricultural regions.