NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has invited Kenyans to submit feedback on an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report for the proposed commercialisation of a genetically modified (GM) cassava variety named KingaKUU.
Developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), KingaKUU is engineered to resist two of the most destructive cassava diseases in East Africa — cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease — both of which have long devastated yields among smallholder farmers.
According to KALRO, the disease-resistant variety has demonstrated strong and consistent performance across multiple cropping seasons and field trials in Kenya and Uganda.
“KingaKUU cassava varieties are disease-resistant and will empower East African smallholder farmers and improve their socio-economic welfare,” reads a technical factsheet from the research body. “The varieties have shown robust and durable resistance to cassava brown streak disease, validated over several production cycles.”
The commercialisation proposal seeks approval to introduce KingaKUU to farmers in 18 counties across Kenya.
KALRO has maintained that the GM cassava poses no additional health or environmental risks compared to conventional cassava, adding that food and feed derived from the new variety are as safe as those from traditional crops.
“The adoption of KingaKUU cassava will help address longstanding disease-related constraints in cassava production. This is expected to boost yields and household incomes among smallholder farmers,” KALRO noted in its submission to NEMA.
In its public notice, NEMA stated that the ongoing environmental assessment aims to evaluate the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed project and inform decision-making to ensure sustainable implementation.
“It identifies likely impacts of the project on the environment and proposes mitigation measures. It also provides baseline data for future monitoring and evaluation,” the Authority said.
If approved, KingaKUU would become Kenya’s first genetically modified cassava to be commercialised — marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural biotechnology sector following previous approvals of GM maize and cotton.
The Authority has encouraged members of the public, stakeholders, and environmental groups to submit their comments and concerns by November 20, ahead of a final decision on the project’s approval.
Cassava remains Kenya’s second-most important food crop after maize, particularly in the coastal and western regions.
Experts warn that severe infections by cassava brown streak disease can cause up to 100 P.c loss of usable roots, threatening food security and rural incomes. The crop also plays a growing role in Kenya’s agro-industrial sector, serving as a raw material for starch, flour, animal feed, and ethanol production.
