As Kenya’s agricultural sector continues to battle the effects of climate change, unpredictable weather, and rising input costs, a new storm is brewing, this time, over seeds.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has opposed the Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill, 2025, currently before the Senate, warning that the proposed changes threaten to undermine seed quality control, weaken government oversight, and expose Kenyan farmers to the risk of counterfeit seeds.
The Bill, sponsored by Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, seeks to introduce a parallel seed registration and certification system under the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), currently housed under the Ministry of Trade.
This would operate alongside the existing regulatory framework managed by KEPHIS, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to the Bill’s sponsor, the aim is to streamline the seed approval process, which he argues is too slow and bureaucratic.
“The current approval period averages four years. The amendment proposes a six-month process that will speed up farmer access to improved and climate-resilient seed varieties,” Olekina said.
Under the proposed KEBS-administered system, seed developers could apply for certification directly, provided they meet basic germination, purity, and quality thresholds.
Approval would be granted within six months.
“This will increase access to quality seeds, encourage innovation, and support food security,” Olekina said.
But for Prof. Theophilus Mutui, KEPHIS Managing Director, the Bill represents a dangerous gamble.
“This is not about speeding up processes. It’s about protecting Kenyan farmers. This Bill threatens to derail Kenya’s ability to guarantee access to quality-assured seeds,” said Prof. Mutui.
Prof. Mutui warned that such a shift would not only confuse farmers about where to seek certification but also compromise the government’s role in seed quality assurance.
“It is not fair to take critical functions from a competent authority like KEPHIS, which represents Kenya in international seed schemes and transfer them to a new structure that lacks our technical infrastructure and experience,” he said.KEPHIS currently plays a key role not just in seed certification, but also in preventing invasive pests from entering the country via ports and cargo inspections.
