Dr. Roy Mugiira, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the
Kenyan National Biosafety Authority (NBA) recently presented
the “Biosafety in Kenya” for SEARCA’s Special Seminar last
May 19, 2011,where he reported that there is a policy, legal
framework, administrative mechanism, and public participation
already in place for the country’s biosafety framework.
The NBA is the body that controls and governs the use and
transfer of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well
as the competent authority on matters of biosafety and biotechnology.
Dr. Mugiira shared that the Kenyan government already has
policy statements recognizing biotechnology as a potential
tool for poverty reduction and food security enhancement.
The government also recognizes its role to safeguard the
citizens and the environment from possible risks associated
with GMOs, hence, the creation of the NBA and its collaboration
with other concerned government agencies to form the regulatory
administrative structure.
Meanwhile, the biosafety regulations, which would specify
the details of the requirements for application, have been
drafted just April 12 this year during a stakeholders’ workshop.
According to Dr. Mugiira, the drafts are currently undergoing
legal scrutiny of the state law office and will soon be
published. This, he said, would pave the way for the materials
that are in confined field trials to be commercially or
environmentally released.
Among the GM crops that are already in confined field trials
in Kenya are Bt cotton, insect resistant maize, water efficient
maize, and virus resistant sweet potato.
When it comes to the public participation, workshops that
draft policies, guidelines, and regulations are conducted
with stakeholders. Also, awareness campaigns and programs
are being implemented.For instance, Kenya’s Ministry of
Agriculture, which is a key agency in the country’s biosafety
framework, is currently implementing program called BioAWARE
which aims to increase the people’s awareness on biotechnology
and biosafety.
In terms of anti-biotech drives in Kenya, Dr. Mugiira speculated
that such efforts were toned down because of constant support
pronouncements onmodern biotechnology by high ranking government
officials.
When asked aboutGM researchfunding from the government
during the open forum, Dr. Mugiira reported that the government
support is “general” and that biotechnology is actually
one of the flagship programs of state.
Dr. Mugiira, along with the chair of the NBA BoardProf.
Miriam Kinyua, and its members Prof. Moses Limo,Mr. OtulaOwuor,
and Ms. Cecilia Nzau,were in the Philippines for a study
tour to see how the country, which has been considered by
many nations to have a model regulatory framework, is handling
biosafety issues.
The Special Seminar was co-organized by SEARCA
Biotechnology Information Center and the Program
for Biosafety System Southeast Asia. (Jenny
A. Panopio and Sophia
M. Mercado)
Download
Dr. Mugiira's presentation here.
