By Milliam Murigi
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has revealed that it is not approving GMO technology to push it on citizens, but rather providing it as an additional option to strengthen food security.
Speaking during a media workshop, Anne Karimi, NBA Chief Executive Officer said the authority’s mandate is to regulate and ensure the safety of biotechnology products, not to dictate what farmers should grow or what consumers should eat.
“We are not in the business of pushing the technology down the throat of Kenyans” she said. “Our responsibility is to make sure that whatever is consumed in the country is safe.”
This revelation comes at a time when biotechnology is being positioned as one of several interventions that could help bridge the food security gap.
Kenya continues to grapple with rising food import bills estimated at nearly half a trillion shillings (US$ 3,843) and increasing pressure on domestic production systems due to climate change, pests, and land constraints.
However, Karimi is careful to stress that GMOs are not a silver bullet.
“Agriculture requires a host of interventions—irrigation, mechanization, improved seeds, among others,” she explained. “Biotechnology is just one of the solutions.”
This nuanced stance reflects a broader effort to balance innovation with public concern. The GMO debate in Kenya has long been contentious, marked by legal battles, public skepticism, and misinformation.
Currently, ongoing court cases continue to shape the pace and scope of GMO adoption, temporarily slowing down implementation even as regulatory frameworks remain in place.
Rather than resisting these legal challenges, Karimi says the authority is engaging them as part of a democratic process.
“There is no law that can stop people from going to court,” she noted. “Our role is to ensure that the public—and even the courts—are fully informed about what GMOs are, what they can do, and how they are regulated.”
At the heart of this assurance is Kenya’s Biosafety Act of 2009, which outlines the procedures for approving, monitoring, and regulating genetically modified products. Karimi maintains that the system is science-based and designed to protect both public health and the environment.
To reinforce oversight, the authority is also expanding its footprint across the country. Currently operating eight border post offices, the NBA plans to increase this number to 24 within the next two to three years to strengthen surveillance at entry points.
“We need to be present across the country not just at headquarters,” Karimi said. “This ensures that what comes in is properly checked and what ends up on Kenyan tables is safe.”
This expansion is also aimed at building public trust one of the biggest hurdles in the GMO debate. Questions about regulatory capacity have long fueled resistance, but Karimi argues that increased presence and transparency will help demonstrate the authority’s capability.
Still, adoption ultimately rests with farmers and consumers. “It will depend on whether people choose to adopt it or not,” she said. “Our role is simply to ensure that the option is available.
