The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has announced plans to partner with curriculum developers in the Country to capture aspects of biosafety when coming up with learning areas for students.
NBA Acting Chief Executive Officer Nehemiah Ng’etich, said the move is to ensure that learners appreciate the issues around biotechnology and biosafety at an early stage for those who wish to pursue their careers in biotechnology.
“We now have a new curriculum, the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), and therefore issues touching on biosafety need to be incorporated,” said Ngetich during an internal stakeholder engagement forum.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is tasked with the development of curriculum for the basic, tertiary sector while universities develop their own curriculum.
The government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) focuses on agricultural transformation and inclusive growth, transforming the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) economy, housing and settlement, healthcare and the digital superhighway, and the creative economy.
These pillars are all geared towards bringing down the cost of living among Kenyans, eradicating hunger, creating jobs, and improving Kenya’s foreign exchange balance.
Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals, which were crafted on the science and mathematics courses, are unlikely to be realised with less knowledge on biosafety and biotechnology.
The Authority also announced plans to step up engagements with county governments on ensuring the safety of GMOs and their derived products in the Country.
He disclosed that the institution has received two more requests from two public universities for partnership in the area of research and development of biotechnology.
Last month the High Court dismissed a case against the lifting of a ban on GMOs and their derived products, reaffirming the Cabinet decision that lifted the ban on GMOs on 3rd October 2022 that Kenya has a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate GMOs.
The Authority has since assured Kenyans in general of the safety of the GMOs and their derived products in the Country.
He said Kenya has a well-established legal, regulatory, and institutional framework which provides for streamlined processes for persons dealing in GMOs and their derived products in the Country.
Ngetich said that the framework outlines specific application requirements, safety assessment procedures, and monitoring mechanisms which align with Kenya’s commitment to food safety, environmental protection, and the socio-economic well-being of its citizens.
The Authority’s scope includes genetically modified plants, genetically modified animals, animal inputs including veterinary vaccines, and genetically modified microorganisms.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
