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Kenyan court declares law banning seed sharing unconstitutional
The ruling protects smallholder farmers from penalties of up to 2 years imprisonment and fines of 1 million Kenya shillings for traditional seed sharing, affirming indigenous seed rights.
- On Thursday, Justice Rhoda Rutto struck down key sections of a seed law as unconstitutional after a challenge by 15 smallholder farmers who run community seed banks.
- A drive to stop counterfeit seeds led to a law granting exclusive rights to licensed seed companies, while food campaigners urged collaboration with farmers to preserve indigenous seeds amid Kenya's counterfeit seeds problem.
- Penalties under the law included up to two years' imprisonment and a 1 million Kenya shillings fine, while indigenous seeds prized for drought resistance underpin community seed banks alongside the national seed bank near Nairobi.
- The ruling prevents enforcement of provisions that criminalised traditional seed sharing, offering immediate legal protection to community seed banks and supporting smallholder farmers and campaigners.
- By validating indigenous seeds, food campaigners including Greenpeace Africa say the ruling supports local resilience by protecting farmer-led seed conservation and community seed banks.
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16 Articles
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The law made it practically impossible for small farmers to save, share, and sell seeds. The Kenyan Supreme Court declared the law partially unconstitutional.
·Netherlands
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Associated Press News+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
Kenyan court declares law banning seed sharing unconstitutional
A high court in Kenya has declared unconstitutional sections of a seed law that prevented farmers from sharing and selling indigenous seeds in what food campaigners have called a landmark win for food security.
·United States
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Kenyan Farmers Celebrate Landmark Seed Sharing Ruling
Kenya's High Court ruled that a law banning farmers from sharing traditional seeds was unconstitutional. This victory enables small-scale farmers to continue their age-old practice, boosting food sovereignty. Greenpeace and farmers highlighted the ruling's importance in balancing power between agribusiness and local practices.
·India
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 40%
C 60%
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