Nairobi: Kenya has joined other East African countries in developing a regional biotechnology strategy that prioritizes equitable access to biotechnology benefits, preservation of biodiversity, and public education to build trust and acceptance. Kenya’s National Biosafety Authority (KNBA), the competent authority for biosafety and designated as the National Focal Point for both the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Biosafety Clearing House, participated in validating the strategy, which aims to harmonize biotechnology policies and regulations to overcome fragmented national frameworks that slow innovation and complicate trade.
According to Kenya News Agency, the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) Executive Secretary, Dr. Sylvance Okoth, addressed delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, the USA, and others in Nairobi, calling on experts to delve deeper into the pillars of the strategy and incorporate views presented during the workshop. Dr. Okoth urged experts to assist partner states that are lagging behind during the three-day forum.
Josphat Muchiri, the National Biosafety Authority Acting Director for Biosafety Awareness, Assessment, and Collaborations, emphasized the importance of having a harmonized strategy. He highlighted that the 10-year strategy, projected to run from 2026 to 2036, will boost crucial regional adoption of safety and implementation standards. He noted that Kenya has been at the forefront of championing this strategy.
Kenya has already established a multi-secretariat committee for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, led by the National Biosafety Authority as the competent national institution on matters of GMOs. The Biosafety Act Cap 320 mandates the National Biosafety Authority to promote awareness and education among the general public in matters relating to biosafety. The Authority is also tasked with establishing a Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) to facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental, and legal information on living modified organisms.
The Authority oversees all genetically modified organisms in Kenya, whether approved, illegal, or unintended. Kenya has developed guidelines on risk assessment, facility certification, genome editing, and GMO testing. Laboratory quality and biorisk management standards, such as ISO 20387:2018 for biobanking and ISO 35001:2019 for biorisk management, are being implemented through the Kenya National Accreditation Service (KENAS).
Kenya has permitted trials for genetically modified crops like banana, cassava, yam, and sorghum at KALRO, with Bt cotton approved for commercial use and limited trials for Bt maize and virus-resistant cassava. Genetically modified food aid is allowed after safety checks, and seven genome editing projects have been approved to improve crop traits.
The East African Community (EAC) envisions a transformative future where biotechnology drives socio-economic development, food security, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and industrial growth across its partner states from 2026/27 to 2036/37. This regional biotechnology strategy, developed by EASTECO, aims to guide the safe, secure, and responsible use of innovative biotechnological tools and products, harmonizing policies and fostering collaboration to maximize benefits while mitigating risks.
The strategy regards biotechnology as a critical enabler for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with the EAC Treaty emphasizing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as pillars for regional integration and development. EASTECO coordinates STI initiatives to support socio-economic progress across all eight partner states, collaborating closely with development partners under its facilitation.
The strategy aligns with major international frameworks, including the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, Africa CDC’s biosafety and biosecurity strategy, and the EAC Vision 2050. These frameworks collectively underscore biotechnology’s role in eradicating hunger, promoting health, ensuring environmental stewardship, and fostering unity and prosperity in East Africa.
Several East African countries are parties to international agreements related to biodiversity and biosafety. Burundi has been a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1997 and a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety since 2008. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity and related protocols. Rwanda joined the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1995 and ratified the Cartagena Protocol in 2002. South Sudan joined the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 2014 but has not yet acceded to related protocols. Tanzania and Uganda have similarly ratified various international agreements to support biotechnology and biosafety.
