The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) is set to start inspecting vessels and containers landing into Kenya ports as a means of combating transmission of pests and diseases from other countries that could affect plants in Kenya.
While addressing the media, KEPHIS Managing Director Prof. Theophilus Mutui said that the 2019/2022 report showed that some vessels and containers from other countries transport pests and diseases from those countries saying that could be a threat to Kenyan farm products.
“Vessels and containers are pathway for introduction of pests and disease, some Capra beetles were transported from Asia through other places and they were introduced through containers,” Prof. Mutui said.
He noted that inspecting and cleaning the vessels could be one way of preventing transmission of pests into the country.
“It was agreed in 2023 in London that vessels and sea containers need to be inspected for cleanliness and need to be cleaned to make sure that they do not transport pests and diseases to other countries. It is the mandate of KEPHIS all vessels and containers are cleaned before transportation,” said the KEPHIS DG.
He added that cleaning the vessels will create employment opportunities for the youth as the cleaning services will be sourced locally.
“We have the capacity of doing that and all regulators will work together to harness and deal with any delay that may be encountered,” he said.
The pilot of the program is set to start on 1st March 2025.