All humanitarian food aid to be free from pests, contaminants-KEPHIS says

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Chairman Joseph M’eruaki has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to ensuring that food aid is free from pests and contaminants.

Speaking during the official opening of the Focus Group on Safe Food and Humanitarian Aid (FGSA) at its headquarters, M’eruaki said that the government will ensure all aid to and passing through the country meets standards.

“As a country that plays a key role in regional humanitarian logistics, we must ensure that all aid entering, leaving, or transiting through Kenya adheres to international phytosanitary standards,” he said.

On his part, the managing director of KEPHIS Prof.Theophilus Mutui, emphasized the agency’s regulatory role in protecting Kenya’s agriculture from invasive pests, especially during emergencies.

“We have strengthened our inspection and certification systems to ensure that humanitarian food aid is safe, traceable, and compliant with global standards,” he noted.

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The FGSA seeks to develop practical, risk-based frameworks and technical guidelines for managing the movement of food aid, in line with the IPPC’s global recommendation on food aid and phytosanitary emergencies.

“The initiative is in alignment with the Government Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes food security, resilience, and sustainable agricultural growth” added the MD.

Through the forum, actionable recommendations are expected to be rolled out to enhance safety, speed, and effectiveness of humanitarian response efforts across Africa.

The week long forum brings together key stakeholders from the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the African Union’s Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), FAO, WFP, and other partners to address the critical issue of safeguarding agriculture while delivering humanitarian aid.

By John Majau.

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