Mombasa, Kenya – The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is hosting a critical sensitisation meeting with Members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock to discuss the proposed Plant Protection Bill, 2025, which aims to overhaul Kenya’s nearly century-old plant health legislation.
The four-day engagement, taking place from 6th to 9th February 2026 at Pride Inn Mombasa, is chaired by Dr. Kanyuithia Mutunga and was officially opened by Dr. Ronoh Kiprono, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Crop Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Addressing an Outdated Framework
At the heart of the discussions is the urgent need to modernise the existing Plant Protection Act (Cap. 324), which was originally enacted in 1937 and last substantively reviewed in 1972. Dr. Kiprono emphasised that strengthening Kenya’s plant health governance framework is essential to safeguard agricultural production, enhance national biosecurity, and support safe and sustainable trade in an increasingly interconnected global marketplace.
The proposed legislation responds to significant transformations in the plant health sector at both national and international levels, as well as constitutional changes introduced by Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, particularly the devolution of agriculture to county governments.
Key Objectives of the Plant Protection Bill, 2025
The Bill seeks to achieve several critical objectives:
- Modernise the legal framework to reflect current national and global plant health realities
- Clarify roles between national and county governments in pest prevention, control, and management
- Strengthen coordination of plant health functions across all government levels
- Align with international standards including phytosanitary agreements and obligations
- Designate KEPHIS as Kenya’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) in accordance with international conventions
- Enhance market access for Kenyan agricultural products through improved trade safety measures
Collaborative Approach
The sensitisation meeting brings together key stakeholders in Kenya’s agricultural and plant health ecosystem, including the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and AAK-GROW/CropLife Kenya.
This multi-stakeholder engagement underscores the collaborative approach being taken to ensure the new legislation addresses the needs of all parties involved in Kenya’s agricultural value chain while maintaining international competitiveness and biosecurity standards.
The proposed Bill represents a significant step forward in modernising Kenya’s agricultural regulatory framework and positioning the country to better respond to emerging plant health challenges in the 21st century.