KEPHIS is the agency in Kenya with mandate to protect Kenya's agriculture from pests and diseases that could impact upon the environment, economy and human health. As provided under Plant Protection Act, (Cap 324) all travellers are required to declare plants/ plant products  or other regulated articles carried as part of their baggage (This includes hand carried products and checked in baggage).

When you travel to Kenya

Pests and diseases can come into the country in the baggage of travellers from overseas devastating our valuable agriculture, tourism industries and our unique environment.

There are 4 steps to entering Kenya that must be followed:

1.   Complete your passenger arrival card before
entering Immigration control.
2.   Enter immigration control:
·  Present your passport.
·  Present your passenger arrival card.
3.  Collect your baggage at the baggage halls. Your baggage may
subjected to inspection by KEPHIS Inspectors.
4.  Import/Biosecurity Control:
· Present your passenger arrival card to the KEPHIS Inspector.
· Declare all plants/ plant products or other regulated articles
in your possession whether they are accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate (International model) or not

All baggage is checked by x-ray or searched by KEPHIS inspectors.

What you must declare on arrival
It is mandatory that the following items be declared to an inspector no matter how free of pests and diseases they appear to be.

• Food
• All plants/plant products
• Microbes whether for research or otherwise
• Bio-control agents
• Soils
• Products of genetic modification
• Packed meals

Items you declare will be returned to you after inspection. Some may be allowed in if accompanied by an Import permit (issued by KEPHIS prior to arrival), or with treatment in KEPHIS Plant Quarantine Station to make them safe (fees and charges apply). Alternatively, you can drop them in quarantine bins at the airport.

More detailed items/ Click here for more details on specific imported plant material

NB: If any declarable items are found in your baggage and you have not declared them on your arrival, you will be contravening cap 324(Plant protection act) and the law will be applied to prosecute you. The consignment will also be destroyed!

The requirements plant importations and in particular regulated and prohibited articles into Kenya are subject to change at any time and without prior notice. If in doubt ask KEPHIS Inspector or Contact the Managing Director thro email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .