Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is a government parastatal established under the State Corporations Act through Legal Notice No. 305 of 1996, with operations commencing in 1997. KEPHIS is mandated to ensure the quality of agricultural inputs and produce, safeguarding the economy, environment, and human health. The agency’s role was further strengthened under the KEPHIS Act No. 54 of 2012, designating it as the National Plant Protection Organization, the National Designated Authority on Seed Quality, and the National Plant Breeders Rights Office. Its regulatory scope covers seed certification, plant variety protection, phytosanitary services, and analytical chemistry laboratory services.
KEPHIS traces its roots to the early seed and plant inspection services in Kenya, with the first seed testing laboratory established in 1944 at the National Agricultural Laboratories (NARL). Over the decades, the agency evolved through the Kenya Inspection Service for Seeds (KIS) and the National Seed Quality Control Service, culminating in the formation of KEPHIS. Regional offices and border inspection units were established across the country, including in Kitale, Mombasa, Kisumu, Embu, and Naivasha, expanding access to regulatory services for farmers, exporters, and importers.
KEPHIS provides automated systems for phytosanitary certification, seed certification, and pest management, ensuring efficient service delivery. The agency’s strategic objectives focus on protecting plant health, assuring seed quality and plant variety protection, facilitating trade, assuring the quality of agro-inputs and produce, and strengthening institutional capacity. Through these functions, KEPHIS enhances crop productivity, market access, compliance with international standards, and overall agricultural competitiveness. Guided by values of professionalism, integrity, innovation, teamwork, and customer focus, KEPHIS continues to be central to Kenya’s agricultural sustainability, food security, and globally competitive trade in plant products.