State reaffirms GMO safety as legal tussles delay implementation
ERASTUS GICHOHI AND BONIFACE MUTIE-KNA
The state has reiterated its commitment to the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) through a robust biosafety regulatory and institutional framework, supported by proven scientific research on various products.
This assurance comes in the wake of numerous court cases that have halted the commercial rollout and local adoption of various GMO products.
Although the Cabinet lifted the decade-old ban in October 2022 on the cultivation and importation of genetically modified crops and animal feeds, new court cases have since delayed implementation.
According to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, the decision to lift the ban was informed by various studies that confirmed the existence of strong policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional structures in Kenya to ensure the responsible and safe application of modern biotechnologies.
However, Kagwe said that the new litigations are solely aimed at derailing the adoption of modern biotechnologies by communities seeking to address pressing challenges such as pests, drought, weeds, and diseases.
He noted that the Cabinet’s decision was intended to address food security challenges worsened by prolonged droughts and to enhance agricultural productivity through biotechnology.
The CS dismissed the recent safety concerns on which the court cases are based, emphasizing that the government has implemented a robust biosafety regulatory and institutional framework through the National Biotechnology Development Policy, the Biosafety Act, and accompanying regulations.
“The government’s commitment to facilitate the adoption of new technologies and innovations to transform low agricultural productivity in the country is being derailed by unending litigations,” Kagwe lamented.
He added that the government will continue to oversee the transfer, handling, and use of genetically modified organisms to ensure the safety of human and animal health, as well as to protect the environment.
The CS further stated that the government aims to adopt modern biotechnology to boost productivity across agricultural value chains and to build resilience to the effects of climate change.
His remarks were delivered byRashid Khator, Secretary of Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture, during the opening of the 13th Annual Biosafety Conference, which focused on efforts to build public trust in the safety of GMOs.
Professor Jenesio Kinyamario, Chair of the Biosafety Board, noted that despite the development of local GMOs, the lifting of the ban has triggered several lawsuits against the Authority, which continue to hamper full implementation.
He said the Authority has so far approved several genetically modified crops, including the already commercialized Bt cotton, Bt maize, and virus-resistant cassava, which is currently undergoing national trials.
Represented by Director Hussein Mohammed, Prof. Kinyamario said the Authority has also approved GMOs such as virus-resistant sweet potato in Kakamega, bio-fortified cassava in Alupe (Busia County), and late blight-resistant Irish potato in Molo (Nakuru County).
Other approved projects include drought-tolerant maize and African bio-fortified sorghum (ABS) in Kiboko, Makueni County, as well as field trials for GM vaccines for the control of Rift Valley Fever in cattle, goats, sheep, and camels.
According to the Authority’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Nehemiah Ng’etich, a GMO testing laboratory has been established to spearhead the necessary research before national rollout.
Ng’etich, however, decried widespread misinformation surrounding GMO adoption in Kenya and emphasized the need for awareness campaigns to allay public fears about safety.
Professor Douglas Miano of the University of Nairobi said the ongoing court ban has created uncertainty in the field, despite decades of research.
He added that Kenya continues to lag in the commercialization of GMO products due to prolonged court injunctions, with negative public perception on safety being the biggest barrier.
Miano noted that Kenya, like several of its African peers, has achieved only about five percent adoption of GMOs, despite the sector’s rapid development and potential to address challenges in medicine, health, and agriculture.
He called for enhanced public awareness to address concerns about GMO safety, stressing that farmers stand to benefit the most once the ban is lifted. Miano also acknowledged the capacity of local scientists in GMO development, supported by a robust regulatory framework.