Kenya: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

  |   Attaché Report (GAIN)   |   KE2022-0010

On October 3, 2022, Kenya’s newly elected president, Dr. William Ruto, lifted the 10-year ban on importation and cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) agricultural products. This decision opens a path to importation of GE agricultural commodities and domestic production of GE crops in accordance with Kenya’s existing regulatory structure. However on November 28, 2022, Kenya’s Milimani High Court issued an order blocking implementation of the directive to lift the ban until December 15, 2022, as part of a legal challenge (Kenyan Peasants League vs State Law and Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries). The GOK has appealed the court’s decision, however at time of publication cultivation and import of GE products remain banned until December 15. Post will closely monitor and report on this development.

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