KEPHIS board and management commence a nation-wide stakeholder engagement tour in a bid to enhance awareness and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders in the agri industry for food security and safe trade

News / Wed, 07/16/2025 - 18:00

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance public awareness of its mandate, the Board of Directors of KEPHIS led by Chairman Hon. Joseph M’Eruaki and Management led by Managing Director Prof. Theophilus Mutui commenced a nationwide stakeholder engagement tour with initial visits to Naivasha and Nakuru.

On 15th July, the team visited the KEPHIS Naivasha office where they met the staff and later toured NINI Flower Farm to assess the implementation of the Systems Approach Protocol for managing False Codling Moth (FCM) in rose cut flowers. This protocol is a critical requirement of the European Union, Kenya’s largest export destination for cut flowers. With the EU market contributing approximately Kshs 72 billion annually in revenue from flower exports, maintaining compliance is essential to secure continued market access and support the Country’s horticultural sector.

On 16th July, the tour continued in Nakuru, where the Board and Management engaged KEPHIS staff and later visited two key stakeholders—Agrico Potato Services Africa and Madrugada Maize Farm.

At Agrico, the team observed field-level activities in sorting and grading of seed potatoes to ensure compliance with KEPHIS certification standards. Only clean, disease-free, and well-formed tubers are approved and classified into Class I and II for use as planting material critical to ensuring farmers access quality seed and improved yields.

At Madrugada Farm, which is contracted by Bayer East Africa as a maize seed grower, KEPHIS plays a vital role in conducting inspections and seed certification. These regulatory checks ensure farmers receive clean, reliable, and certified maize seed for planting,supporting higher productivity and promoting Kenya’s food security .

Through these visits, KEPHIS continues to affirm its core mandate in plant health regulation, seed certification, and plant variety protection, all key components in promoting safe trade and building a food-secure Kenya.