Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is set to roll out an inspection programme for sea vessels and containers before offloading to ensure that they meet the cleanliness standards.
Speaking at the Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), KEPHIS, Theophilus Mutui, noted that the initiative will see that pests and diseases are identified early and hence can be managed properly to avoid transmission to other parts of the country. "By ensuring that all containers and vessels entering and leaving Kenya meet stringent hygiene and phytosanitary standards, we are not only protecting our agricultural sector but also strengthening Kenya's credibility as a responsible trading partner," he explained.
He further highlighted that the programme will also serve as a platform for job opportunities among the youth, explaining that inspectors will be employed locally to avoid exporting labour, hence aligning with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. "This programme will also lead to international compliance in trade since if our containers and plants do not meet the cleanliness and other standards required by international communities, they will be rejected, and then we lose business," reiterated Mutui.
Additionally, he assured the shipping sector of time management in terms of delays, highlighting that KEPHIS has enhanced personnel, citing a total of 20 currently deployed inspectors. "This is just for the piloting phase, and if required, as we progress, we will add more inspectors; hence, I am giving my commitment to this matter and it is also a board decision," he clarified.
