Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service

What Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service does

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is a government parastatal established in 1996 under the State Corporations Act and reconstituted under the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Act 2012. It is the exclusive Kenyan regulatory body mandated to assure the quality of agricultural inputs and produce, prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases, and facilitate safe international trade in plants and plant products. KEPHIS implements the Plant Protection Act Cap 324 and the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act Cap 326, and serves farmers, seed merchants, plant breeders, fresh produce exporters, agricultural importers, and government agencies.

KEPHIS's core offering combines nine specialized laboratories (molecular biology, bacteriology, virology, entomology, inorganic, organic, and food testing) with a portfolio of integrated digital platforms, including the Integrated Export Import Certification System (iEICS), Plant Import and Quarantine Regulatory System (PIQRS), Pest Information Management System (PIMS), SC & PVP Management System, Seedcard Processing System, and ASSIP. Distribution is delivered through 33 regional offices across Kenya, Huduma Zetu government service centers, and global-facing online portals. Core services include phytosanitary inspection and certification, seed certification, plant variety protection, biological requirements assessment, and laboratory testing.

KEPHIS generates revenue through transaction-based regulatory fees for phytosanitary certificates, import/export permits, seed certification, plant variety protection, seed merchant registration, and laboratory testing, with pricing set through official regulatory fee schedules rather than market-based pricing. As a government parastatal wholly owned by the Government of Kenya, it does not have external investors and operates under ministerial supervision. It maintains strategic partnerships with the EU DG SANTE, TradeMark Africa, MoALD, PCPB, AFA-HCD, KFC, and FSGAK to support trade facilitation and market access for Kenyan agricultural exports.

Name

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service

Legal name

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service

Website

https://kephis.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is a government parastatal that regulates plant health, certifies seeds, issues phytosanitary certificates, and operates nine specialized laboratories serving farmers, seed merchants, exporters, and importers across Kenya.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Testing, Certification & Quality Assurance (Germination, Purity, Phytosanitary) (AFABAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Quality Testing & Certification Support (Germination, Purity, Vigor) (AFAOADAK), Phytosanitary & Export Certification Support (Documentation, Compliance) (AFAOAMAG), GMO/Identity Preservation & Variety Verification Testing (AFAOAMAD), Import/Export & Border Compliance Support (FSVP, Prior Notice, Health Certificates) (AFALADAE), Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAF), Fertilizer Compliance, Testing & Certification (Nutrient Analysis, Regulatory/Stewardship Programs) (AFABABAL)

Keywords

• Plant health inspection
• Phytosanitary certification
• Seed certification services
• Agricultural regulatory services
• Plant variety protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Regulatory and Certification Services: Government regulatory body generating revenue through phytosanitary certificates, seed certification fees, plant variety protection fees, import/export permits, and laboratory testing services. Operates as a parastatal under State Corporations Act.
2. Permit and License Processing: Processing fees for Plant Import Permits, seed merchant registration, authorization of seed certification activities, and exporter registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KEPHIS is a Kenyan government parastatal that provides plant health inspection, phytosanitary certification, seed certification, and plant variety protection services for the agricultural sector. The organization issues phytosanitary certificates for exports, regulates plant imports through quarantine requirements, certifies quality seeds, protects plant breeders' rights, and conducts scientific laboratory testing across multiple disciplines (molecular biology, bacteriology, virology, entomology, inorganic, organic, and food testing). Operations are supported by a network of digital platforms and 33 regional offices across Kenya.

Product overview

KEPHIS operates as a regulatory government parastatal offering a portfolio of integrated online systems and core services for plant health, seed certification, and agricultural quality assurance. The product ecosystem consists of multiple interconnected web-based platforms including iEICS (for phytosanitary certificate issuance), PIQRS (for plant import regulation), PIMS (for pest management), SC & PVP Management System (for seed certification and variety protection), and the Seedcard Processing System, all supported by physical laboratory testing services, phytosanitary inspection, seed certification, and plant variety protection services. The integrated systems enable end-to-end regulatory oversight from seed import facilitation through phytosanitary certification for exports, forming a comprehensive regulatory framework for Kenya's agricultural sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Integrated Export Import Certification System (iEICS) Automated web-based system for issuing phytosanitary certificates and ephytos for exports, which are then transmitted to receiving parties via secure transportation protocol. Targeted at fresh produce exporters and seed exporters requiring market access compliance.
• Seedcard Processing System Online system for processing seed certification applications and documentation for seed companies, merchants, and plant breeders.
• SC & PVP Management System Seed certification and plant variety protection system providing online payment options for the seed industry and plant breeders to reduce time and transaction costs.
• Pest Information Management System (PIMS) Web-based database system containing information to help effectively report and manage pests in Kenya. Used by agricultural stakeholders for pest surveillance and biosecurity management.
• Plant Import & Quarantine Regulatory System (PIQRS) Business-to-Government and Government-to-Business web-based system designed to enhance efficiency in plant import regulation, ensuring imported plants, plant products and regulated articles pose minimal phytosanitary risk to Kenya.
• Small Label System Web-based labeling system for tracking agricultural inputs and produce, supporting traceability for seed and produce certification.
• Automated Support System for Importation of Phytosanitary Consignments (ASSIP) E-commerce platform that regulates the importation of plants, plant products and regulated articles into Kenya, minimizing phytosanitary risks associated with importation.
• Laboratory Services Scientific testing and analysis services across multiple disciplines including Molecular Biology, Bacteriology, Virology, Entomology, Inorganic, Organic, and Food testing. Used by seed companies, exporters, importers, and researchers requiring lab-based diagnostics.
• Phytosanitary Services Inspection and certification services ensuring plants and plant products meet international phytosanitary standards for safe trade, targeted at exporters and importers of agricultural products.
• Seed Certification Services Certification services ensuring quality seeds for farmers and the agricultural sector, including seed merchant registration, seller licensing, and seed field inspection. Targeted at seed merchants, seed growers, and farmers.
• Plant Variety Protection Intellectual property protection services for plant varieties, supporting plant breeders' rights and encouraging development of new plant varieties. Targeted at plant breeders and seed companies.
• Biological Requirements Assessment Risk assessment services for introduction of live biological control agents, bio-fertilizers, bio-stimulants, organic fertilizers and related products, facilitated through the Kenya Standing Technical Committee on Imports and Exports (KSTCIE). Targeted at importers and distributors of biological agricultural inputs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked Top 3 in Agriculture, Rural and Urban Development Sector Performance Evaluation

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TradeMark AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026TradeMark Africa supported the stakeholders meeting on Food Safety and Market Access convened by KEPHIS on June 10, 2026. The partnership focuses on enhancing trade facilitation and market access for Kenyan agricultural exports.
• European Union DG SANTEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety conducts audits on official controls of pesticide residues in food exports from Kenya, supporting compliance with EU market requirements.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing policy direction and collaboration on national food safety regulatory framework implementation.
• Pest Control Products Board (PCPB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory body for pest control products in Kenya, collaborating on food safety standards and market access compliance.
• Kenya Flower Council (KFC)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry association representing flower exporters, working with KEPHIS on phytosanitary certification and compliance with international market requirements.
• Agriculture and Food Authority – Horticultural Crops Directorate (AFA-HCD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment authority regulating horticultural crops, collaborating on food safety standards and market access for fresh produce exports.
• Food Safety Growers Association of Kenya (FSGAK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association representing growers, participating in stakeholder meetings on food safety and market access compliance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC player offering agricultural commodity testing, certification, and supply-chain assurance. Overlaps with KEPHIS's laboratory and certification services as a private-sector alternative for export-oriented clients.
• SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance): Global testing, inspection, and certification giant that competes with KEPHIS's laboratory services for premium agricultural testing work (residue analysis, food safety). Operates as a broader incumbent rather than a specialized plant health regulator.
• Intertek: Multinational TIC company with agricultural and food testing capabilities. Competes with KEPHIS labs for premium residue, microbiological, and food safety testing tied to international export compliance.

Others

• EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization): Regional plant health intergovernmental organization setting standards adopted by national NPPOs including KEPHIS. Functions as an ecosystem partner/coordinator rather than a direct competitor.
• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC): FAO-hosted international treaty that sets the ISPM phytosanitary standards KEPHIS implements. Influences KEPHIS's mandate and credibility but does not compete commercially.

Direct peers

• Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA): Tanzania's national regulator for plant health, phytosanitary controls, and seed certification. Regional peer with a near-identical regulatory scope to KEPHIS and a shared East African trade zone.
• South Africa Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD): South Africa's national plant health and agricultural regulatory authority. Oversees phytosanitary certification, seed testing, and plant variety protection — a direct functional peer operating at greater scale in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service): The U.S. federal plant health regulatory agency performing the same core mandates as KEPHIS — phytosanitary certification, seed inspection, plant variety protection, and import quarantine — and is the closest direct functional equivalent at a national government level.
• Ghana Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD): Ghana's plant health and seed certification regulator. Comparable mandate covering phytosanitary inspection, seed certification, and plant quarantine for an African agricultural export economy.
• Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS): Nigeria's national plant health and quarantine agency. Performs phytosanitary certification, import/export inspection, and seed-related regulation — directly comparable to KEPHIS in both mandate and African developing-market context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KephisKe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kephiske?si=iN5u0cWaVQOu6l71
• Facebookfacebook.com/kephispage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenya-plant-health-inspectorate-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service