The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) was established pursuant
to the provisions of the Biosafety Act No. 2 of 2009. The mandate
of the Authority is to exercise supervision and control over the
development, transfer, handling and use of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) so as to ensure and assure safety of human
and animal health and provide adequate protection of the
environment.
NBA is the competent authority of the Republic of Kenya and is
the Focal Point for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The
Authority regulates all activities involving GMO in food, feed,
research, industry, trade and environmental release

 A Genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or
microorganism that has been genetically changed to improve it in
some way e.g. maize that can protect itself from insect attack or
drought.

GMOs approved by NBA are as safe as their conventional crops or
products. Safety assessment based on international standards forms the
basis of evaluating the safety of GM foods. The GM foods currently
available on the international market have undergone thorough safety
assessment and have shown no adverse effects on human and animal
health.

Yes. Pollens from GM crop may flow to the conventional crop and vice
versa. This is, however, crop specific. For most crops, crosspollination
occurs if the distance is less than 400 metres. However, if the pollens
cross over to the conventional crop, there is no harm so long the GM
crop has been approved by NBA.

• Increased resistance of plants to insects, diseases and other
constraints.
• Reduced use of chemical insecticides.
• Improved nutritional qualities such as vitamin A (in rice, sorghum
and sweet potatoes).
• Increased crop yields.
• Development of vaccines and diagnostic kits for improved
animal health.
• Environmental protection through use of less chemical
insecticides.

• Increased resistance of plants to insects, diseases and other
constraints.
• Reduced use of chemical insecticides.
• Improved nutritional qualities such as vitamin A (in rice, sorghum
and sweet potatoes).
• Increased crop yields.
• Development of vaccines and diagnostic kits for improved
animal health.
• Environmental protection through use of less chemical
insecticides.

The NBA is a government agency established under the Biosafety Act No. 2 of 2009 to regulate the development, handling, transfer, use, and release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Kenya. Its goal is to ensure the safe use of biotechnology for human health and environmental protection.