The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has voiced strong opposition to the proposed Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill, 2025, warning that the legislation could compromise seed quality and weaken government oversight in Kenya’s agriculture sector.
The Bill, currently under review by the Senate, proposes the creation of a parallel seed registration and regulation system under the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). KEPHIS argues that such duplication would undermine its statutory role, lead to confusion among farmers, and open the door to substandard or counterfeit seeds.
KEPHIS Board Chairman Joseph M’Eruaki and Managing Director Prof. Theophilus M. Mutui made their concerns known during a stakeholder engagement forum in Uasin Gishu County. Prof. Mutui warned that farmers may become uncertain about which agency to consult for certified seeds if KEBS is introduced as a co-regulator.
“We risk creating regulatory confusion in the sector,” Prof. Mutui said. “Allowing seed producers to determine the quality of their own seeds without government validation threatens seed integrity and could erode public trust.”
He added that KEPHIS will soon submit a formal memorandum to the Senate opposing the Bill, calling for its withdrawal or significant amendment.
Chairman M’Eruaki reaffirmed KEPHIS’s core mandate to ensure plant health, safeguard seed quality, and support Kenya’s agricultural exports through stringent phytosanitary measures.
The agency also used the forum to encourage farmers, especially in the North Rift, to take advantage of KEPHIS services such as soil testing and access to certified planting materials to improve productivity and food security.
Written By Rodney Mbua
