By Milliam Murigi
Even as court cases continue to stall the adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops in Kenya, stakeholders in agricultural biotechnology sector remain active.
They are maintaining research and preparedness efforts, in anticipation of future commercialization and eventual rollout to farmer’s once legal and regulatory clarity is achieved.
At the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), scientists are already undertaking multiplication of GM cassava planting materials, aimed at ensuring immediate availability once regulatory and legal barriers are resolved.
“Here at KARLO Kandara, we are expanding the GM cassava lines, a product designed to withstand Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), one of the most destructive threats to cassava production in the region,” said Beatrice Wambui, the farm supervisor.
According to her, the programme has been ongoing since 2015. It focuses on cross-breeding and biotechnology to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant cassava lines.
So far, scientists have developed more than 280 cassava lines, including GM lines targeting CBSD, which can cause yield losses of up to 100 percent in severely affected farms.
“We have used modern biotechnology and developed a variety that can be taken to farmers,” she said. “The focus now is multiplication so that when approval is granted, distribution can happen without delay.”
According to her, multiplication farms have already been established to scale up planting materials, forming a readiness pipeline intended to ensure rapid distribution once regulatory clearance is fully activated. The farms are producing early-generation planting materials that can later be expanded through national seed systems and farmer networks.
Cassava remains a critical food security and industrial crop in Kenya, especially in semi-arid regions where it is valued for its drought resilience. However, low yields and persistent viral diseases have continued to limit its productivity and economic potential.
Preliminary field data from improved cassava lines show significantly higher yields and better root quality compared to traditional varieties, with some plants producing multiple large roots per plant. Scientists say this could enhance cassava’s role in food systems and support industrial uses such as starch and flour production.
At the same time, Kenya’s biosafety regulator NBA has confirmed that the genetically modified cassava has already completed advanced stages of evaluation, including confined field trials and national performance trials conducted across multiple sites in the country.
According to Deputy Director for Biosafety Licensing, Monitoring and Surveillance, Julia Njagi, the cassava programme which was initiated in 2013 has undergone a full regulatory pathway designed to ensure safety before release.
Despite regulatory progress, full commercialization of GM cassava remains suspended due to ongoing court proceedings challenging aspects of GMO approval processes in the country.
“This material has already been evaluated and given the green light for environmental release by the National Biosafety Authority,” Njagi said. “However, it cannot proceed to farmers due to ongoing court cases affecting GMO commercialization.”
The process, overseen by the National Biosafety Authority, includes food safety, environmental safety, and socio-economic assessments to ensure any approved technology meets strict regulatory standards.
Researchers involved in the cassava programme say continued seed multiplication is critical to avoid delays once legal clarity is achieved, ensuring that farmers can quickly access improved varieties when approval pathways are reopened.
Once legal clarity is achieved, Kenya will join a growing number of countries integrating biotechnology cassava into national food systems aimed at improving yields, strengthening resilience, and boosting food security for smallholder farmers.
Kenya has already commercialized some genetically modified crops, including Bt cotton, which has been grown since 2020, and Bt maize, which has also received regulatory approval. Other applications, including GM potato and additional maize varieties, remain under review.
