Machakos High Court to rule on indigenous seed use dispute

The Machakos High Court is set to deliver a landmark judgment on Thursday that could shape the future of indigenous seed use in Kenya. The case centers on the Seed and Plant Varieties Act of 2012, amended in 2016, which mandates the use of certified seeds to improve productivity and maintain quality control. However, small-scale farmers argue that the law criminalizes traditional practices such as sharing, exchanging, or selling indigenous seeds that have been relied upon for generations.