Kenyan government: scrap law that JAILS Kenyan farmers for sharing indigenous seeds

20 04 2023 | 13:22 Greenpeace Africa

An outrageous law stops smallholder farmers in Kenya from using indigenous seeds to exchange them with other farmers - an age-old tradition. 

To make it worse, these farmers face a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine of up to 1,000,000 Kenyan Shillings (8,000 US Dollars) if they break this punitive law. All the while big companies are profiting, flooding Kenya with seeds. 

The government needs to protect Kenya’s farmers from big corporations. Kenya’s government should amend these seed laws now and allow the sale, exchange and sharing of indigenous seeds and integrate local farmer seed management into law.