The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (KEPHIS) on Monday shut down a go-down belonging to one of the major seed companies for allegedly engaging in packaging and distribution of uncertified seeds.
The Freshco seed company is believed to be owned by a senior official of the seed traders association of Kenya and was found to be packaging and selling uncertified seeds which had been rejected by KEPHIS.
The said seeds according to KEPHIS failed the germination tests but the distributor went ahead and sold them to unsuspecting farmers using fake lot numbers.
Speaking inside Go down 16 at National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) premises in Nakuru, KEPHIS MD Dr. Esther Kimani said that FRESHCO company had over 13,200kg of fake seeds which included maize, green grams, Soybeans and sorghum seeds.
Dr. Kimani said as the country's leadership focus on the top four agendas, KEPHIS as the directorate will strengthen supervisory role to ensure that all the seed companies comply with the laid down regulations to ensure food security.
"Seed production is a lucrative business, and we encourage more people to venture into it but then they must follow strictly the rules of the industry, “she said.
She said that various seeds of different crops were found in the go-down some with stickers of KEPHIS of 2015 which is very risky to the economy of the farmers.
The director added that KEPHIS will be opening a case against the seed company.
The fake seeds had been already sold to farmers in Molo, Nyahururu, and Homabay.