New GMO Laboratory to Be Constructed at the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Kabete

The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) plans to build its headquarters at the Directorate of Veterinary Services in Kabete. This site will also host a Regional Reference Molecular Laboratory.

The Authority’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Nehemia Ngetich, stated that the headquarters will also have a demonstration field for approved genetically modified crops.

“This is a big milestone, considering NBA has been renting office spaces. Renting has posed a challenge in establishing a permanent molecular lab for GMO detection and other molecular tests,” Ngetich said during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Directorate of Veterinary Services Director Dr. Allan Azengelle.

Prof. Jenesio Kinyamario, Chairperson of the NBA Board of Directors, also attended the event. Other attendees included board member Mohamed Hussein, and Directors Moses Sande, Dr. Ann Karimi, and Josphat Muchiri. Dr. Azengelle welcomed the MoU, emphasizing its significance for the institution’s mandate.

Additionally, the Authority is tasked with public awareness to educate Kenyans on GMO foods, including regulatory safeguards and informed consumer choice.

The Authority has published four regulations: Biosafety (Contained Use) Regulations, 2011; Biosafety (Import, Export and Transit) Regulations, 2011; Biosafety (Environmental Release) Regulations, 2011; and Biosafety (Labeling) Regulations, 2012.

NBA’s role aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), focusing on agricultural transformation, inclusive growth, and transforming the MSMEs economy.

Some of the Authority’s achievements include developing and publishing necessary Biosafety regulations. The NBA has a strong legal and institutional framework to regulate GMOs and their derived products, ensuring the safety of human and animal health, and environmental protection.

The new GMO Testing Laboratory, serving the region, was commissioned in June 2022 at the NACOSTI Building, where the NBA headquarters are currently located.

Kenya is a member of the international community and a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a multilateral environmental agreement that aims to ensure a sufficient level of protection in the safe transfer, handling, and use of GMOs and their derived products.