Nakuru Office

KEPHIS Nakuru station was established as a national center for seed quality control in 1979 at 0°17'43.6_S 36°11'03.7_E Lanet in Nakuru. This was as a result of the relocation of the seed laboratory that was based at NARL Nairobi to the current location in Lanet. It was then called the National Seed Quality Control Service (NSQCS). We have evolved with time and in 1996, When KEPHIS was formed in 1996, it took over the activities of NSQCS. The station ensures KEPHIS mandate is achieved mainly in eight counties of the country as shown in the figure below:

Jurisdiction areas covered by the office

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Figure 2: Highlighted counties in Yellow are areas of KEPHIS his Nakuru Jurisdiction.

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The office’s areas of jurisdiction (as highlighted in yellow in Figure 1 above) includes 8 counties namely; -

1. Nakuru county
2. Nyandarua county (shared with KEPHIS Naivasha office)
3. Narok county
4. Bomet county
5. Kericho county
6. Samburu county
7. Laikipia county (Shared with Embu office)
8. Baringo county

Services per County

 

Seed Certification

The station undertakes seed certification activities in within its jurisdiction of 8 counties. The aspects of seed certification done here include:

• Seed field inspection.
• Seed processing and sampling
• Post control monitoring.
• Post-certification surveys of seed sold in the market.
• Registration of seed growers, Merchants, seed sellers, Agents.
• Offering training on various aspects of seed certification.
• Hosting the Kenya chapter of the ISTA Seed Testing laboratory.

Seed Testing Laboratory

The KEPHIS Seed Laboratory is the official government seed testing laboratory in Kenya, a member of ISTA (since 1964), and is ISTA accredited (since 2002). The laboratory focuses on seed testing services but also has a strong capacity to contribute to research and education in the field of seed quality.

Figure 3: seed testing Laboratory

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Our customers range from local farmers, seed companies, Public and international organizations. As a customer-focused laboratory, operating in a world of changing needs and opportunities, we innovate constantly to provide high-quality service.

The laboratory has offered seed testing services continuously since 1944. It provides ISTA testing for a wide range of crops and tests including sampling, purity and other seed determination, germination, viability, moisture content, weight determination, vigor, and Seed Health tests.

The laboratory provides the following services apart from the core function of seed testing:-

1. It hosts international workshops
2. It offers consultancy services on topics related to seed testing
3. offer specialized or general training to a wide variety of audiences including seed analysts, industry staff(local and International), and students from tertiary institutions

Commitment to Quality

As an accredited laboratory, we improve our quality management system continuously to respond to the needs of a changing global seed world.

Summary facts about KEPHIS Seed Testing Laboratory

• Is the only National seed testing laboratory in Kenya
• Offers testing services for more than 250 species of crops, vegetables, flowers, and trees
• Able to testabout200 pathogens (fungi, bacteria, and viruses)
• Is a reputable seed industry source for international workshops and short courses on seed quality.
• Has served as Kenya’s seed industry leader in seed testing for 69 years

Plant Health Laboratory

The plant health laboratory was established in 2014 and to date, more than five thousand samples have been tested for different pathogens and our clients advised accordingly. The health of seed refers primarily to the presence or absence of disease-causing organisms such as fungi, bacteria and viruses, and animal pests, such as eelworms and insects although Physiological conditions such as trace elements deficiency may be involved. The laboratory takes pride in its modern equipment which enable rapid and reliable results being released to the client within the set timelines. This is based on well-researched methods that enable reproducible detection of the presence or absence of pathogens in plant material and soil.

Core values

Professionalism, Customer Focus, Innovative, Effectiveness, and Efficiency, Teamwork

Our customers

Our customers range from local farmers, seed companies, county governments, public and international organizations. As a customer-focused laboratory, operating in a world of changing needs and opportunities, we innovate constantly to provide high-quality service. We listen and endeavor to meet our customers’ needs by always expanding our scope of testing based on their needs. The laboratory has the following units:

Molecular Testing Unit

This laboratory makes use of molecular techniques to ensure samples are tested rapidly and reliably based on the detection of both DNA and RNA of pathogens in samples. This is achieved using both Real-time PCR and Conventional PCR which gives high reliability of results.

Figure 4: Reagent Room Molecular Testing Unit

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Figure 5: Real-Time PCR and Conventional PCR Room

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Figure 6: Gel Documentation Room

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Mycology Testing Unit

The inspection of plant materials to observe fruiting structures of fungi and the effects of the fungi on the physical appearance if any are observed for quicker decision making by our staff. The fruiting bodies such as acervuli, pycnidia, perithecia, sclerotia on the plant surface, or submerged in the plant tissue can be seen by the naked eye as well as using sophisticated microscopes. Our laboratory is well equipped with both stereomicroscope and compound microscope as well as computer attached trinocular microscopes and fluorescent microscope. These enable our staff to accurately identify fungal to species level. Our large capacity walk-in Near Ultraviolet incubation room enables faster sporulation of fungal which makes fungal detection rapid.

 

 

Figure 7: Master mix preparation

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Figure 8: Bacterial culture observation

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Figure 9: Sample preparation and DNA Extraction

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Nematology Testing Unit

This is the youngest of the units in the plant health laboratory following the unending needs to meet our clients’ needs. The unit was established last year in 2019 and to date over six hundred samples have been tested. Nematodes are a diverse group of worm-like animals that are found in virtually every environment both as parasitic and free-living organisms. Their impact in agriculture production has been underestimated over the years but in recent days, their economic damage has come to be acknowledged hence the need to identify and manage them properly. General statistics globally puts reduced yield loss due to Nematodes at 11% reducing production by millions of tonnes every year.

 

 

Phytosanitary Section

KEPHIS Nakuru regional office offers phytosanitary services to farmers/ stakeholders in the region. Our customers range from local farmers, seed companies, county governments, public and international organizations, Research institutions, Importers, Exporters, local manufacturers. Key activities include:-

• Farm audits for new and existing farms
• Export facility inspections.
• Fruit tree Nursery inspections
• Issuance of Phytosanitary certificates
• Issuance of Plant Import Permit
• Quarantine facility inspections
• Plant clinics/Diagnostic Services
• Advisory services
• Stakeholder training on phytosanitary issues.
• Stakeholder collaborations on phytosanitary issues

Farms/Facilities Within The Region

We have registered a total of 57 farms/facilities, all export-oriented:

• Flower Related farms-37
• Vegetable and herbs-10
• Quarantine/propagating facilities-14
• Wood treatment facilities-4
• Dry produce facilities-2

Nursery Inspections

• We have a total of 44 nurseries for fruit trees; 5 nurseries for Pyrethrum.

Our operations are offered at both our Lanet Office and at Huduma Centre., with the bulk being at our Lanet office.

Frequently asked questions

How can one verify whether the seed lot is certified or not?

• First, confirm if the seed packet has a KEPHIS sticker label
• Scratch the sticker label and send the code to 1393

What are the qualifications/ requirements for one to be a seed grower?

• Should have a contract with the seed merchant
• Should have technical knowhow about seed production
• Should have adequate land for production

What are the requirements for one to be a seed seller?

• Should have a valid seed seller’s license from KEPHIS

What are the requirements for one to be a registered seed merchant?

• Adequate and knowledgeable personnel who are conversant with seed production
• Adequate production of land and farm equipment
• Adequate machinery and equipment to process seeds
• Adequate storage space

What are the benefits of using certified seeds?

• High yielding
• Resistant to pests and diseases

What are the procedures before growing potato seed for certification?

• Soil tests for bacterial and potato cyst nematodes
• Adequate land for crop rotation

Nakuru Regional Office Contacts:
P.O. Box 1679 Nakuru
TELEFAX: 020-3536170
Cell:0722-209503|0734-330020
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.