The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service has intercepted 166 bags of 90kg fake maize seeds which were to be sold to farmers in the coming short rains season.
Some three suspects were arrested when the fake seeds were confiscated from where they were being processed at Motosiet village in Kachibora, Cherangany subcounty in Trans Nzoia.
In a statement sent to the newsroom, KEPHIS managing director Theophilus Mutui said they acted on information from the public.
“KEPHIS inspectors raided the house where the seeds were being processed in the company of police. They found three suspects packaging the fake maize seeds,” Mutui said.
Over 15 metric tonnes of fake seeds was intercepted and seized.
He said the owner of the house escaped and is said to have crossed over to Uganda but the three suspects who were arrested were charged Friday at the Kitale law courts for contravening the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act.
The Act provides standards for production, processing and marketing of certified seeds.
The law also sets steep penalties for those who contravene it. This includes a fine of up to Sh1 million and a jail term of up to two years.
“KEPHIS will conduct nationwide surveillance to check whether any of the fake seed has been distributed. I also ask anyone with information on this case or any similar incident to report to any of our office, the police or the nearest County department of Agriculture office. Any report will be treated with confidence and acted on immediately.
To confirm if one has bought genuine seeds, Mutui advised farmers to check the presence of the KEPHIS label on the seed package.
Seed packages less than five kilos in weight have sticker labels. The stickers can be scratched and the number sent to 1393 as a message for confirmation.
“Sending the message is free and incase the seed is not genuine, call the number provided on the label (0707891000) for assistance by KEPHIS staff,” he said.
He added that they are also investigating reports of fake bean variety known as Nyota which belongs to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
“The Nyota bean variety has been faked by unscrupulous merchant in Elgeyo-Marakwet county,” said Mutui.
