Dr. Chagema Kedera is currently a Programme Coordinator at COLEAD. He holds a PhD in Plant Pathology and has over 30 years of expertise in agricultural trade, policy, and regulatory frameworks, with a focus on plant protection, food safety, biotechnology, and seed certification.
He was the founding Managing Director of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and played a pivotal role in positioning the agency as a leader in plant health and food safety regulation, ensuring compliance with both national and international standards. He was actively involved in global standard-setting organizations, including the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), Codex Alimentarius (CODEX), OECD seed and horticultural schemes, the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). From 2006 to 2008, he served as Chairperson of both the OECD Annual Seed Schemes meetings and the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). Over the years he has provided services in various capacities to programmes/projects funded by the USAID, EU, Gates Foundation, FAO etc.