The Senate has proposes fast-tracking of a bill that will enable farmers to benefit from quicker access to drought-tolerant and climate-smart seed varieties, a new legislative proposal aimed at reforming the country’s seed approval system.
The Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill, 2025 sponsored by Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, seeks to establish a parallel registration pathway through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), offering an alternative to the lengthy certification process currently overseen by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS).
According to the Bill, the existing system has become a bottleneck for agricultural innovation, with seed approvals taking up to four years. The proposed KEBS-administered framework would reduce this timeline to just six months, provided applicants meet minimum standards for germination, purity, and quality.
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“This amendment introduces a standards-based registration system to streamline access to improved seed varieties,” the Bill states, adding that the new route would prioritize climate-resilient crops and varieties suited for rapid deployment in response to environmental challenges.
Applicants would be required to submit technical data, proof of disease-free status, and a physical seed sample. They must also be registered seed merchants under KEPHIS. If approved, KEBS would issue a five-year certificate of registration.
The Bill outlines eligibility criteria for fast-track registration, including varieties previously tested, those intended for niche markets like urban farming, and crops that do not require extensive ecological trials. Nineteen crop types are listed, among them pigeon peas, chickpeas, mung beans, oats, barley, millet, sunflowers, and Sudan grass.
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Senator Olekina argues that the dual-approval model will accelerate farmers’ access to high-quality seeds, reduce bureaucratic delays, and foster innovation in the agricultural sector. “We need a system that responds to the urgency of climate change and food insecurity,” he said.
The Bill also empowers KEBS to revoke registration if post-market monitoring reveals non-compliance or fraud, ensuring accountability and seed integrity. If passed, the legislation could mark a turning point in Kenya’s seed regulation landscape, offering farmers a more agile and responsive system to meet evolving agricultural demands.
By Masaki Enock
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