Kenya has concluded National Performance Trials (NPTs) for genetically modified cassava, marking a key milestone toward its possible commercial rollout.
The trials took place in Kandara, Murang’a County, as well as in Mtwapa and Alupe. According to the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), the crop has now met the requirements to proceed to the next stage of commercialisation.
If approved, the virus-resistant cassava will join Bacillus thuringiensis maize (Bt maize), which has already received approval for cultivation by farmers. However, progress on both crops remains stalled due to ongoing court cases, with a court-ordered suspension still in effect despite government efforts to reintroduce GM crops.
Speaking during a media engagement at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Kandara, NBA Acting CEO Dr. Ann Karimi clarified that the Authority’s mandate is strictly regulatory.
“We are neither proponents nor opponents of GMOs. Our responsibility is to ensure that any GMO used in Kenya is safe,” she said, adding that such innovations could help address food insecurity, particularly under the pressures of climate change.
Dr. Karimi noted that Bt cotton is already being grown in several counties, while virus-resistant cassava has successfully undergone both confined field trials and national performance trials across multiple sites, including Kandara, Mtwapa, Alupe, and Kiboko. She added that Bt maize and genetically modified potatoes are also under development.
She emphasised that misinformation remains a major challenge, underscoring the Authority’s role in providing accurate information to the public.
“The biggest hurdle is the court process. Once that is resolved, cassava could be made available to farmers within a short period,” she stated.
Dr. Karimi further revealed that Kenya spends close to KSh 500 billion annually on food imports, pointing out that GM technology is “one of the solutions” to the country’s food security challenges, alongside irrigation and mechanisation. She also stressed that adoption of GM crops would remain optional.
“No one is being forced to adopt GMOs. They are simply an alternative for those who choose to use them,” she said.
To enhance oversight, the NBA currently operates eight border control offices and plans to expand to 24 within the next two to three years. Proposed new stations include Isebania and Moyale to strengthen monitoring of GMO imports.
Julia Njagi, Deputy Director in charge of biosafety licensing, monitoring, and surveillance, highlighted cassava’s importance as a staple crop but noted its declining production due to disease.
“We are hopeful this technology will eventually be adopted because it offers direct benefits in improving yields and boosting farmers’ incomes,” she said.
Njagi explained that the modification works by effectively strengthening the crop’s resistance to viral infections.
“In simple terms, it ‘immunises’ the cassava against viruses that cause tuber rot,” she said, noting that it specifically targets Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD), both of which can result in total crop failure.
She clarified that the genetic modification does not affect cyanide levels in cassava.
“Different cassava varieties naturally contain varying cyanide levels, but this technology does not alter that. Its sole purpose is to protect against cassava brown streak disease,” she explained.
Njagi added that all GMO-related activities in Kenya are governed by a strict legal and regulatory framework, with assessments covering food safety, environmental impact, and socioeconomic factors. Public participation, she noted, is also a critical component of the evaluation process.
“We have a legal obligation to engage the public, but beyond that, it is essential that people understand what we are doing,” she said.
The cassava project was first approved in 2013 by the NBA for research under confined field trials led by KALRO. After more than a decade of testing and data collection, the application progressed to national performance trials, which have now been completed over two growing seasons. The disease-resistant varieties are currently awaiting formal release.
The NBA works in collaboration with agencies such as KEBS, KRA, and KEPHIS to monitor GMOs in the country. These institutions inspect and test imports to ensure compliance with the Biosafety Act of 2009, verifying that all GMO materials are authorised, properly labelled, and safe for both human health and the environment.
By: Samuel Mwangi
