(Ecofin Agency) - • Kenya’s biosafety agency begins campaign to counter public distrust of GMOs

• The KES 1.94B plan runs through 2027, with focus on public education and biosafety

• A recent court ban and activist pushback show deep concerns over food sovereignty

Kenya has launched a national campaign to promote genetically modified (GM) crops and counter widespread public mistrust. The initiative is led by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), which oversees the regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The campaign, announced on May 5, is part of NBA’s new strategic plan running through 2027. The plan has a KES 1.94 billion ($15 million) budget and aims to raise public awareness of biosafety and GMO technology.

NBA Chairman Jenesio Kinyamario said the campaign is meant to address misinformation, especially among farmers and consumers, many of whom remain skeptical. A 2022 poll by Infotrak found that 57% of Kenyans were still wary of GMO foods, while 43% supported them.

The push for GMOs comes at a time of tension between the government, which sees the technology as a way to boost food security, and farmers and civil society groups, who fear it threatens local farming systems.

In March 2025, Kenya’s Court of Appeal banned the import of genetically modified corn, responding to legal action brought by civil society groups including the Kenyan Peasants League and the Kenyan Association for Biodiversity and Biosafety (BIBA). The ruling suspends all GMO import and promotion activities pending a full court hearing.

This legal challenge targets the government’s decision to lift a ten-year ban on GMOs in October 2022, a move announced by President William Ruto to address food shortages after prolonged droughts.

Activists argue that GMO crops could increase dependence on seed companies like Bayer, and weaken farmers’ rights to save, share, and reuse their own seeds. GM seeds are often covered by intellectual property rules, limiting reuse and forcing farmers to buy new seeds each season.

“We’re fighting not just against GMOs, but for the protection of our indigenous seed varieties, farmers’ rights to save and exchange seeds, and the preservation of our agricultural biodiversity. This is about securing food sovereignty for generations to come,” said Cidi Otieno of the Kenyan Peasants League in a statement issued on March 25.

Critics also say that GMO farming threatens climate-resilient local crops and agro-ecological methods, which are better suited to rural areas and long-term sustainability.

The court has ordered a full stop on any GMO-related activities until the legal case decides whether lifting the moratorium was valid and in the public interest.

A November 2024 study by the Breakthrough Institute and four partner groups estimates that delays in adopting GM crops have cost Kenya $157 million in potential earnings.

The study, "Genetically Modified Crops in Kenya: The Cost of Delay", outlines several missed opportunities. These include Bt corn, resistant to major pests, could have earned $67 million over five years if introduced in 2019; a late rollout of Bt cotton in 2020 led to losses of $1.2 million; a blight-resistant potato with 3R genes saw losses of $89 million from delays

These setbacks are linked to Kenya’s 2012–2022 ban on GMOs. Despite the delays, the outlook remains positive. The same report projects that adopting Bt corn, Bt cotton, and the resistant potato could generate $467 million in gains over the next 30 years. These benefits would come from better yields, fewer crop losses, and higher incomes for small-scale farmers.

However, if the government does not address concerns about seed rights, corporate control, and long-term environmental effects, GM technology may remain on the sidelines. A more inclusive approach, one that brings civil society into the planning, could allow GMO crops and traditional farming methods to move forward together.