State launches campaign to promote GMO awareness

National Biosafety Authority (NBA) acting CEO Dr Anne Karimi addressing participants during an awareness forum at the Bukura Agricultural College in Kakamega on Wednesday/IMAGE /HILTON OTENYO

The government has rolled out a campaign to create awareness among farmers on modern technologies and how to improve services and production.

The campaign is being spearheaded by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), in collaboration with other government agencies./

It involves public engagement and awareness campaigns under the “One Government Approach.” 

The initiative seeks to enhance public understanding of modern biotechnology while addressing misinformation and disinformation surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and emerging biotechnologies.

On Wednesday, the Authority held an awareness forum with agriculture and biotechnology students from Bukura Agricultural College, lecturers and farmers in Lurambi constituency.

The campaign, themed “Enhancing Public Awareness and Regulation of GMOs in Kenya”, will culminate in a two-day public engagement forum on Thursday and Friday at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Mumias East Subcounty.

NBA board chairman David Wamatsi said misinformation often shapes public perception, making continuous engagement and awareness essential as scientific and policy discussions evolve.

He noted that Kenya’s agricultural transformation and commitment to science-driven solutions place the NBA at the centre of national discourse, particularly on issues such as food security, climate resilience, health innovation and sustainable development.

“We remain committed to promoting biosafety, transparency and meaningful public engagement,” Wamatsi said.

NBA ccting CEO Dr Ann Karimi said the forum aims to improve public understanding of modern biotechnology and biosafety, while addressing misinformation and disinformation around GMOs and related technologies.

She added that the initiative seeks to promote informed, science-based discussions in support of food security and agricultural transformation.

“As an authority, we have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology on training students undertaking modern biotechnology-related courses. Another MoU with Chuka University is set to be signed in June this year,” she said.

She said the partnerships demonstrate NBA’s commitment to manpower development, which is one of its core mandates.

“We recognise that the future of safe and responsible biotechnology lies in empowering institutions of learning, researchers, lecturers and students with the necessary knowledge, skills and practical exposure in biosafety and biotechnology,” she added.

The NBA is the state agency mandated to exercise general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of GMOs in Kenya, with a view to ensuring the safety of human and animal health and the protection of the environment.

Kenya signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2000 and ratified it in 2003, with the National Biosafety Authority serving as the national focal point.

The CBD is an international agreement aimed at regulating GMOs to ensure their safety to humans, animals and the environment.

The protocol forms part of the global framework for biodiversity conservation and provides guidelines for the use of biotechnology while recognising potential risks associated with new technologies.