The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Board has strongly opposed the Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill 2025, warning that its enactment could weaken government oversight and expose farmers to substandard and counterfeit seeds.
The board Managing Director Prof Theophilus Mutui also warned that unscrupulous traders may take advantage of the gap created by the new bill and start selling fake seeds leading to reduced yields and food insecurity.
The Bill which is currently before the Senate proposes to introduce a dual certification system involving the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Speaking during a presser in Nairobi, Mutui said this would create confusion among farmers and dilute KEPHIS’ regulatory role.
He cautioned that the proposed law could compromise seed quality and undermine the government’s authority in seed regulation.
Prof Mutui said farmers might be left uncertain about which agency to approach for certified seeds if KEBS is introduced as a co-regulator.
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“If the new bill is enacted, it will bring confusion because it is the same certified seed being regulated by KEPHIS. I strongly feel that unscrupulous traders will take advantage of the gap to start selling fake seeds leading to reduced yields and food insecurity.
We are totally opposed to it because it is not good for Kenyan farmers. We urge the Senate to reject it,” said Mutui.
KEPHIS Board Chairperson Joseph M’ Eruaki regretted that cartels will take advantage and start using shortcuts to bring in seedlings that are not well researched.
He said if enacted the bill will bring a lot of problems in the seed sector noting that KEPHIS is the best suited to regulate the industry.
“KEPHIS is the only accepted regulator because it represents the government both locally and internationally. The amendment being introduced is not even internationally accepted.
Cartels will take advantage and start using shortcuts to bring in seedlings that are not well researched. They should not only be researched at the laboratory but all the recommended zones. This is why KEPHIS is the best suited to regulate the industry,” said M’Eruaki.
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He called for stronger collaboration with agricultural stakeholders, urging farmers to utilise KEPHIS services such as soil testing and certified planting materials.
“We encourage farmers to take advantage of KEPHIS services to ensure they access quality inputs,” he said.
M’ Eruaki said the Bill introduces a parallel seed registration system under the KEBS, which could cause confusion among farmers over which agency is responsible for seed certification.
He warned that this move would undermine its legal mandate and compromise the government’s ability to guarantee farmers access to quality-assured seeds.
The chairman said the agency also fears that the bill may be influenced by powerful cartels seeking to weaken regulatory controls for their own commercial gain.
He urged the Senate to reject the Bill, warning that having two regulators in the seed sector would dilute accountability, disrupt quality control mechanisms, and ultimately harm Kenyan farmers.
By John Majau
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