16/03/2026
Policy Brief: Kenya Seed Bill and Agroecology Perspective.
The Seeds and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill 2025 seeks to reform Kenya’s seed sector by strengthening regulation, improving seed quality control, and recognizing emerging seed systems. The Bill builds upon the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act (Kenya), which governs seed certification, production, and distribution in the country. While the reform aims to enhance seed quality and protect farmers from counterfeit seeds, it has generated significant debate among farmers’ organizations, civil society groups, and agroecology advocates.
A key issue in the debate is the recognition of farmer-managed seed systems (FMSS). These systems play a critical role in Kenya’s agricultural landscape, where smallholder farmers often save, exchange, and sell seeds locally. FMSS contribute to agrobiodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and preservation of indigenous crop varieties. However, strict regulatory requirements for certified seeds—implemented by institutions such as the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)—may unintentionally limit the operation of these traditional seed systems.
From an agroecology perspective, seed systems should be pluralistic, recognizing both the formal certified seed sector and farmer-managed seed systems. While seed certification ensures quality standards such as seed purity, germination, and varietal identity, farmer-managed systems rely on community knowledge and local adaptation to maintain seed diversity.
Policy reform therefore needs to strike a balance between quality assurance and farmers’ rights. This includes clearly recognizing farmers’ rights to save, exchange, and sell seeds within local markets, supporting community seed banks, and strengthening participatory plant breeding initiatives. Such measures can enhance seed sovereignty, protect biodiversity, and support sustainable food systems.
In conclusion, the Kenya Seed Bill presents an opportunity to build a more inclusive and resilient seed system that integrates scientific regulation with farmer knowledge and agroecological principles.
