Scoping study report on: National food safety architecture of the horticulture value chain, Kenya

Kang'ethe, E., Muriuki, S., Karugia, J., Guthiga, P. and Kirui, L. 2019. Scoping study report on: National food safety architecture of the horticulture value chain, Kenya. Prepared for the Voice for Change Partnership (V4CP). Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.

The horticulture sub-sector contributes about 36% of Kenya’s agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) which stands at 24%. It offers employment to over 6 million Kenyans and generates foreign exchange earnings in excess of one billion dollars (USD). This scoping study highlights the food safety control system architecture in the horticulture value chain. An abridged questionnaire of the World Health Organization (WHO 2012) guidelines for developing and implementing national food safety policy and strategic plan was sent to a team of experts in the horticulture value chain to provide the necessary information on the food safety landscape. The sub-sector is regulated by several institutions and laws, served by several public and private laboratories capable of carrying out microbial and chemical analysis. Many of these are concentrated in the major urban centres. Some standards have been harmonized across the East African Community (EAC). The food safety issues identified by the team of experts were mainly microbial and chemical hazards. There was no awareness on the role of parasitic hazards as important food safety concerns. The food loss experienced in the sub-sector arises mainly from lack of infrastructure to enhance safety and hygiene.