Scientists have warned that Kenya risks falling behind other African nations in adopting modern biotechnology due to prolonged litigations, a situation they say threatens ongoing research on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Registrar for Research, Innovation and Outreach at Kenyatta University, Prof. Richard Oduor said the uncertainty has discouraged students pursuing biotechnology.
Speaking during the induction of the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) Board of Directors, he noted that legal disputes over GMOs have persisted since 2012, frustrating researchers.
“Since 2012, we have been having back and fourth on the issue of GMOs, researchers and scholars are now tired with these litigations some which are sponsored by people whose countries have already adopted GMOs but are opposed to Africa having the same technologies,” lamented Prof. Oduor.
He said opponents have cited health risks, population control, neo-colonialism, lack of political goodwill, cultural erosion and negative public perception, claims he dismissed as unfounded.
“If the United States, which values its citizens, has embraced the technology, would it adopt something that harms its people?” he posed.
Prof. Oduor refuted allegations that GMOs cause cancer or infertility, noting their role in producing vaccines for Ebola, COVID-19 and other diseases. He said genetic engineering is also used to improve crop yields, develop disease-resistant and drought-tolerant varieties, and enhance medicinal plant production.
Countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan, Malawi, South Africa and Eswatini have embraced GMOs for agriculture and other sectors.
An Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Abdullahi H. Osman highlighted the NBA’s role in tackling food insecurity and ensuring safety standards for pesticides, fertilisers and GMOs.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has a mandate to ensure food safety and standards by regulating the use of pesticides, fertilizer and GMOs,” said Mr Osman who represented Secretary Administration in the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Rashid Khator during the internal board members induction of the National Biosafety Authority.
NBA Ag. Director for Biosafety Research and Compliance, Josphat Muchiri, said Kenya has a robust legal, regulatory and institutional framework to manage GMOs, with licensed research institutions including KALRO, ILRI, Kenyatta University, ICIPE and Masinde Muliro University.
Kenya ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2003, mandating the NBA to regulate GMO research, imports, exports, commercialization, public awareness and capacity building. The Authority also works with agencies such as NEMA, KEPHIS, county governments and the Directorate of Veterinary Services.
Priority areas under the National Biotechnology Policy include developing new plant and animal varieties, bio-remediation, human vaccines, herbal medicines, biofuels, biofertilizers and bioplastics. Prohibited technologies include human cloning, unethical stem cell research and the terminator gene.
Established in 2010, the NBA enforces regulations covering contained use, environmental release, import/export, labelling, and post-release monitoring of GMOs for up to 20 years. It also conducts quarterly market surveillance, border patrols and intelligence-led inspections to ensure compliance.
