Seven Arrested For Peddling Counterfeit Seeds In Kisii And Nyamira Counties, Exploiting Farmers’ Trust
The Mt Kenya Times 
Chelang’at Tanui, the acting Deputy Director of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) displaying fake impounded seeds. Photo |Elizabeth Angira
By Elizabeth Angira
In a joint operation in Nyamira and Kisii counties, a multi-agency team led by Chelang’at Tanui, the acting Deputy Director of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Kisumu office, have successfully apprehended seven traders selling uncertified maize seeds to unsuspecting farmers.
Tanui addressing the press in Kisii, highlighting the surveillance efforts that led to the arrest of four individuals in Nyamira and three in Kisii County.
The suspects were caught hawking suspected fake seeds, and Tanui emphasized that the proliferation of fake seeds in the market often results in low yields for farmers.
She stressed that such unscrupulous activities undermine the government’s initiatives to enhance food security, causing financial losses for farmers who unknowingly plant uncertified seeds.
She emphasized the need for farmers to obtain original receipts indicating the seed variety purchased.
“It’s good for farmers to purchase seeds from certified agro vet, “she said.
To tackle this issue, Tanui announced plans to intensify patrols to ensure farmers have access to only certified seeds.
During the crackdown, the team seized 210 kilograms of seeds in Kisii County and 100 kilograms in Nyamira.
“Some were arrested while selling the fake maize seeds in a measuring tin (GOROGORO) in contravention of set rules,” she said.
Tanui disclosed that the arrested individuals would face charges and could incur fines of up to Sh 1 million or face two years in prison.
She further highlighted the importance of certified seeds, identifiable by a smart KEPHIS label.
Farmers were encouraged to scratch the label and send a message to the number 1393 to verify the certification of the seeds in the package.
Tanui assured that KEPHIS would continue surveillance across all 47 counties, aiming to ensure quality assurance, promote the use of certified seeds, and ultimately achieve higher yields.
Tanui urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing seeds, as some traders employ deceptive tactics by offering lower prices for uncertified seeds to attract unsuspecting farmers.
Chege Maina, representing the County Commissioner, affirmed the government’s commitment to vigilance and taking swift action against those involved in selling fake seeds
Maina noted that the crackdown and subsequent arrests were part of a broader sensitization exercise to inform farmers about the presence of fake seeds in local outlets.
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