The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has mounted a capacity-building training for the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) to strengthen oversight of biotechnology research involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
During the training, KALRO IBC Chair, Dr. Martin Mwirigi, reaffirmed KALRO’s commitment to responsible, compliant and science-led biotechnology research.
He noted that the training strengthens KALRO’s internal biosafety systems and ensures that the organization’s research aligns with national regulatory requirements and international best practices.
Dr. Mwirigi said that the training focused on enhancing the IBC’s capacity to evaluate, approve and monitor biosafety activities in compliance with the Biosafety Act (CAP 320), its associated regulations and relevant international agreements including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
He added that participants were equipped with foundational knowledge on biosafety, modern biotechnology and GMOs, along with practical skills in risk assessment, monitoring, reporting, and biosafety communication.
The programme also clarified institutional roles, reporting lines, and operational procedures necessary for effective IBC functioning.
The NBA Chief Executive Officer, Nehemiah Ngetich, emphasised the central role of Institutional Biosafety Committees within Kenya’s national biosafety framework.
He underscored that well-functioning IBCs enhance regulatory compliance, improve the quality of applications submitted to the Authority, and safeguard human health and the environment.
KALRO Acting Director General, Dr. Alice Murage, emphasized the importance of public communication in biosafety governance and stressed that all research evaluated by the IBC must be impactful while strictly adhering to biosafety requirements.
Dr. Murage further affirmed management’s commitment to supporting the Committee’s work and joined IBC members during a visit to the Kiboko Weed and Pest Confined Field Trial (CFT).
The initiative is expected to result in a strengthened, well-equipped Institutional Biosafety Committee capable of effectively reviewing biosafety applications while enhancing coordination and collaboration between KALRO and the NBA in support of safe and responsible biotechnology development in Kenya.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
