KEPHIS opposes seed bill, warns of food security risks
The agency also expressed concern that the Bill is being pushed by powerful commercial actors who could exploit weakened oversight.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has cautioned the Senate against approving the proposed Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill, 2025, warning that the legislation could disrupt the country’s seed certification system and endanger agricultural productivity.
Following a board meeting, KEPHIS raised concerns that the Bill—if passed—would weaken the current regulatory framework by transferring key seed quality functions from KEPHIS to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), effectively establishing a parallel system under a different ministry.
“KEPHIS regulates the quality of seed and provides certification, but it is now proposed that this function be transferred to KEBS, which will cause confusion,” said Board Chair Joseph M’eruaki.
“One item, seed, cannot be regulated under two ministries.”
The proposed amendments to the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act (Cap 326) are aimed at accelerating variety approvals, cutting red tape, and expanding farmers’ access to high-quality, climate-resilient seeds.
However, KEPHIS warned that these changes, while appearing beneficial on the surface, would compromise the integrity of seed certification and open the door to exploitation by vested interests.
“This Bill threatens to derail Kenya’s ability to guarantee farmers access to quality-assured seeds,” said KEPHIS Managing Director Prof. Theophilus Mutui. He noted that the agency’s mandate goes beyond certification and includes inspecting shipping containers and vessels to block the entry of dangerous pests into the country.
KEPHIS officials stressed that allowing KEBS—an institution under the Ministry of Trade—to handle seed quality would result in fragmented oversight, undermine accountability, and create confusion in policy execution. They warned this would destabilise existing systems that ensure farmers get viable, pest-free seeds.
“This is about the future of farming in Kenya. Poor-quality seeds mean poor harvests, and poor harvests mean food insecurity,” M’eruaki said.
The agency also expressed concern that the Bill is being pushed by powerful commercial actors who could exploit weakened oversight to flood the market with substandard seeds, putting smallholder farmers at risk.
While supporters of the Bill argue it will increase efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the seed sector, KEPHIS maintained that reform must not compromise the transparency and quality checks that underpin the country’s agricultural resilience.
