Food safety./HANDOUT
Kenya has introduced a new law to make food and animal feed safer by bringing together the many government agencies responsible for food safety under one coordinated system.
The Food and Feed Safety Control Co-ordination Act, 2026 (No. 21 of 2026) was assented to on June 23, 2026, and came into effect on July 10, 2026.
The law seeks to improve coordination among public institutions responsible for ensuring that food and animal feed are safe for human and animal consumption. It is expected to reduce duplication of roles, strengthen accountability and improve the country's response to food safety risks.
Livestock Development PS Jonathan Mueke welcomed the reforms, saying stronger oversight of animal feeds would improve livestock health and food safety.
"Safe feed is the foundation of safe food. Strengthening coordination across institutions will help reduce contamination risks, protect animal health and enhance the competitiveness of Kenya's livestock sector both locally and internationally," Mueke said.
One of the major changes introduced by the law is the establishment of the Office of the Food and Feed Safety Controller, an independent office that will coordinate food and feed safety activities across the country.
The office will oversee implementation of national food safety programmes, monitor the performance of government agencies, identify policy gaps, advise the government on emerging food safety issues and publish an annual report on the state of food safety in Kenya.
The office will also establish a national food and feed safety information management system and coordinate the country's preparedness and response to food safety emergencies.
The law comes at a time when Kenya continues to face food safety challenges such as aflatoxin contamination in maize and other cereals, pesticide residues in fresh produce, antimicrobial resistance and poor-quality animal feeds. These issues pose risks to public health, livestock production and Kenya's agricultural exports.
County governments will be responsible for licensing and inspecting food and feed businesses, enforcing food safety standards, conducting public awareness campaigns, building technical capacity and preparing annual food safety reports.
Each county will be required to submit its annual report to the Food and Feed Safety Controller before the end of every financial year.
Brenda Nakumincha, Head of Food Safety at the Ministry of Health said the Act is guided by principles that promote the protection of human and animal health, safeguard consumer interests, encourage science-based decision-making and support sustainable food production.
The Act also requires the controller, working with national and county government agencies, to prepare and regularly review a multi-year national food and feed safety control plan to guide inspections and enforcement.
Nakumincha said the legislation was designed to improve coordination among institutions while allowing each agency to continue performing its legal mandate.
"Food safety is a shared responsibility that requires strong coordination among all institutions. This legislation provides the framework needed to harmonise our efforts, improve surveillance and strengthen our ability to prevent, detect and respond to food safety risks across the entire food chain," she said.
The coordinated approach will strengthen consumer protection, improve traceability and increase confidence in Kenyan food products in both local and international markets.
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The food safety system has involved several institutions, including the Ministries of Health and Agriculture, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Directorate of Veterinary Services and county governments.
The reforms are also expected to help Kenya meet international food safety requirements under the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the World Trade Organization's Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, boosting the country's agricultural exports and increasing consumer confidence in locally produced food.
