Photo Image. 
By Virginia Siebella
The Machakos High Court will on Thursday issue a long-awaited judgment that could reshape how Kenyan farmers use and exchange indigenous seeds—a matter that has stirred heated national debate and divided opinion among policymakers, commercial seed players, and rural communities.
At the heart of the dispute is the Seed and Plant Varieties Act of 2012, amended in 2016, which mandates farmers to plant certified seeds to enhance quality and productivity.
While the government argues the law is necessary to regulate seed standards and protect consumers, small-scale farmers say the legislation has effectively criminalized their traditional systems of saving, sharing, and exchanging seeds.
During a community dialogue organized by Haki Nawiri Afrika and supported by Powershift Africa in Machakos on climate adaptation and food sovereignty, farmers expressed fears that enforcing the Act without accommodating indigenous seed practices could erode centuries-old farming culture.
They argue that certified seeds are costly, often unavailable in remote regions, and do not always perform well under changing climatic conditions.
Many of the farmers preserve orphaned and climate-resilient varieties, which they say thrive naturally without the need for chemical inputs—requiring only manure.
They insist that restricting their use undermines biodiversity, weakens food security, and threatens cultural heritage built around seed preservation and exchange.
Ahead of Thursday’s ruling, farmers are mobilizing for a peaceful procession and plan to submit a petition urging the court to consider a more inclusive approach to seed regulation.
They want policies that safeguard modern agricultural standards while also protecting indigenous knowledge systems that have sustained rural communities for generations.
The judgment is expected to set an important precedent in the ongoing debate over seed sovereignty and the future of Kenya’s food systems.
