NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has officially launched its strategic plan for 2023-2027.
The NBA is pivotal in exercising general supervision and control over the transfer, handling, and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
This is done to ensure the safety of human and animal health and the provision of an adequate level of protection of the environment. This is achieved through the application of both international and national standards on safety assessments.
The Authority is guided by the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Biotechnology Policy, the Biosafety Act, and a set of Biosafety Regulations.
Speaking during the launch of the plan, the authority’s acting CEO, Nehemiah Ngetich the new strategic plan signifies an assertion in providing quality service delivery and commitment to serve with integrity, professionalism, customer focus, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
“We all know that ‘what is not planned, measured, and timed cannot be accomplished’. This strategic plan represents a third-generation strategy for the NBA, succeeding the partially implemented 2020-2025 plan,” explained the CEO.
What informed the development of the strategic plan
He disclosed that the development of the Strategic Plan was informed by the need to realign with the government’s MTP IV (2023-2027) and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), as well as the requirement to realign with the guidelines for the development of the 5th generation strategic plans as issued by the National Treasury, State Department for Economic Planning.
“This plan identifies key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. The new strategic plan serves as a foundation for ensuring alignment with current government priorities and regulatory requirements,” he added.
The Authority is Kenya’s National Focal Point for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the global biosafety regulatory framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
National Biosafety Authority board members during their visit to Busia One Stop Border Post (OSBP).The visit to engage various stakeholders along the border on the mandate of the Authority. @KRACorporate @kilimoKE @KEBS_ke @InteriorKE
Since its establishment, the NBA has continued to realign its mission, policies, and strategic objectives to its vision of ‘a nation where genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe and beneficial. This realignment has continued and is now cascading to the 2023-2027 plan period,” the acting CEO further said.
On his part, the Authority’s Board of Directors chairperson, Prof. Jenesio Kinyamario, revealed that the Strategic Plan will be achieved through strategic objectives across eight Key Result Areas (KRAs), each supported by targeted strategies to guide its efforts over the coming years.
What are the eight KRAs in the NBA’s new strategic plan
The eight KRAs in the strategic plan are public awareness and education on biosafety, dynamic laws and institutional policies on biosafety; biosafety assessments; compliance and enforcement; biosafety information management; international partnerships and collaborative engagement in the implementation of the protocol and the CBD; infrastructural and operational efficiency; and human resource management.
“It is important to note that the implementation of this plan will require about Sh1.94 billion, and therefore we call upon the government to support the authority with available resources as we also step up our collection of revenue,” explained Prof. Kinyamario.
On GMOs,food and seed controlDid you know that Kenya has an agricultural transformation strategy 2019-2029 that seeks to move farmers out of farming into more lucrative jobs and have more Kenyans consume more processed foods?
He also observed that the Authority has made notable progress in undertaking its mandate.
“We now have land for the construction of NBA Headquarters that will also host a regional reference molecular laboratory, establish a GMO testing laboratory, and approve the commercialisation of Bt cotton, which is now being planted in about 20 counties across the country, with positive impacts to the communities,” Prof. Kimanyario said.
Where the NBA has opened several border offices in Kenya
The chairperson also pointed out that the authority has accelerated the decentralisation of its services to regions such as Mombasa, Busia, Namanga, Malaba, Lunga Lunga, and Taita Taveta.
“And we look forward to opening six more border offices in this period of the Strategic Plan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ngetich further disclosed that efforts have been made to realign the resources available to the Authority with key strategic objectives and the planned annual activities.
“Characteristically, this strategic plan articulates the vision, mission, core values, and strategic objectives. It also outlines the strategies and activities to be implemented to give the Authority an enhanced service delivery as well as cascading of responsibilities to operational units to achieve the best and anticipated results,” he said.
National Biosafety Authority Strategic Plan 2023-2027 launch in Nairobi.Eng. Laban Kiplagat , Agriculture Engineering Secretary was the chief guest representing PS Agriculture Dr. Paul Rono.
He reiterated that their joint analysis of the SWOT, PESTEL, and stakeholder mapping, as well as identification of potential risks and strategies that have been put in place to mitigate/avoid them, gives them confidence that the implementation of the 2023-2027 strategic plan will be a successful venture.
The event was also attended by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Agriculture, Dr. Paul Ronoh.
