A fresh legislative proposal seeks to cut down the long and frustrating delays seed developers face in getting approval for drought-tolerant and climate-smart seed varieties in Kenya.

The Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced in the Senate by Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, proposes a new certification route that would allow seed varieties to be approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), running parallel to the current process managed by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis).

Currently, the registration process through Kephis can take up to four years, a delay Olekina says has held back timely access to improved seed varieties that are essential in responding to climate change.

“This amendment seeks to address the inefficiencies in the current seed approval process, which has led to significant delays,  averaging four years, and hindered farmers’ access to quality and climate-resilient seed varieties,” the Bill reads.

The proposed standards-based registration system would be managed independently by Kebs. It is designed to operate alongside the Kephis process, giving seed scientists, developers and innovators the option to choose the faster route, provided their products meet set quality benchmarks.

“There is established a standards-based seed registration system to be administered by the bureau for approval and registration of seed varieties that meet minimum quality standards,” the Bill reads.

Olekina says the new law will support a more efficient, affordable, and climate-smart agriculture sector by encouraging innovation and reducing regulatory delays.

If passed, the law would allow farmers earlier access to quality seeds, helping to improve food production, promote sustainable agriculture, and enhance food security.

Under the proposed changes, seed developers applying through the Kebs route would be required to submit technical data showing the variety meets minimum germination and purity thresholds.

They must also show the seed is free from noxious weeds and seed-borne diseases, and prove that they are registered seed merchants with Kephis.

In addition, applicants must provide a physical sample of the seed, which will serve as a reference for comparison with any future applications involving similar varieties.

Kebs will have six months to assess applications, verify the genetic distinction of the variety from existing ones, and determine whether it meets all quality conditions. Based on the results, the bureau can either approve or reject the application.

If approved, the seed variety will be registered and a certificate issued to the applicant. This certificate will be valid for five years.

According to the Bill, only seed varieties that are proven to be climate-resilient and those intended for fast response to environmental stress will be eligible for this fast-track certification.

Varieties that have already gone through sufficient testing and have met required standards will also qualify. The Bill also includes provisions for low-risk crops developed for niche markets, such as urban farming and specialised crops that do not need extensive field trials.

A total of 19 crop types have been listed as eligible for the new registration path. These include Sudan grass, pigeon peas, cereal rye, oats, lupins, chickpeas, barley, canola, linseed, grain sorghum, wheat, and fava beans.

Other crops include different types of beans such as French, dry, and green beans, lablab, sunflowers, mung beans, millets, and Rhodes grass.