The government has sought to calm public concerns over the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) amid widespread misinformation about the technology.
Moses Sande, Legal Officer at the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), assured Kenyans that the Authority has established strict safeguards to ensure the safety and security of GMO technology.
He stressed that no person or institution would be permitted to bring GMOs into the country without first undergoing thorough assessment and approval by the relevant regulatory bodies.
Mr Sande said cotton remains the only genetically modified crop approved for commercial cultivation in Kenya, noting that its farming is already underway in 30 arid and semi-arid counties.
Mr Sande spoke in Isiolo Town during a Corporate Social Responsibility event at the Isiolo School for the Deaf, where he represented National Biosafety Board Chief Executive Officer Anne Karimi.
He said all GMO-related crops go through extensive inspection, testing and verification before they are approved for commercial release and consumer use.
“The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) are among the key institutions working with the National Biosafety Authority to ensure safety and security in service delivery,” Mr Sande said.
He added that several African countries have embraced GMO technology as part of efforts to tackle climate change and improve food security.
He named South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Sudan as countries that have adopted the technology.
During the event, Assistant Director of Education Eric Bundi thanked the Authority for donating food supplies and financial support to the school.
The donation included eight bags of beans, four bags of maize, 30 cartons of milk and 10 jerrycans of cooking oil.
Mr Bundi said the assistance came at a time when the region is still grappling with the effects of prolonged drought.
The school’s principal, Godfrey Gikunda, called for continued support to help the institution expand its agricultural activities, saying the initiative would supplement learners’ nutritional needs while improving food security at the school.
GMO technology uses biotechnology to alter the DNA of crops or livestock. Scientists transfer specific genes from one organism to another to introduce traits such as pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, drought resilience and improved nutritional value.