By Ouma Wanzala
Principal Communication Officer
To enhance the effective execution of its mandate, staff from the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) underwent training on stakeholder mapping processes during a three-day workshop held at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in Kandara, Murang’a County.
The training, facilitated by Dr. Paul Chege and Dr. Christian Odinga from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter), equipped NBA officers with the skills to identify and analyze stakeholders critical to the Authority’s operations.
The facilitators underscored the importance of the exercise, noting that the Authority can only operate effectively through active collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, who form an essential pillar in the realization of its mandate.
The Authority is mandated to regulate genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by ensuring the safety of human and animal health while safeguarding the environment.
“This is a very important exercise that will enable us to work more effectively together and raise awareness on biosafety matters, as it will allow us to tailor our messaging based on the specific needs of identified stakeholders,” said Mr. Eric Korir, Head of the Biosafety Awareness Department at the Authority.
The workshop, which ran from October 1st to 3rd, 2025, identified key stakeholders who influence biotechnology policy development, implementation, and biosafety decision-making in Kenya, as well as their interlinkages.
Participants identified a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government ministries, regulatory agencies, research and academic institutions, private sector players, development partners, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and regional and international bodies.
The relationships among these actors were categorized according to key functions such as reporting, training, capacity building, funding, and collaboration—each aligned to the Authority’s mandate.
Among the emerging findings was the existence of strong reporting relationships between the NBA and key stakeholders, including relevant ministries, national regulatory agencies, and other government entities that facilitate the Authority’s work.
Communication was highlighted as a critical aspect of stakeholder engagement, with participants urging the Authority to develop a robust mechanism for raising awareness about its mandate among various partners.
The exercise also underscored the importance of adequate funding for the Authority’s activities, stakeholder capacity building, and advocacy initiatives.
“There is a need for continuous capacity building among stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, NGOs, and civil society organizations. This should encompass technical training, infrastructure enhancement, and non-monetary resource sharing aimed at strengthening biosafety compliance,” added Mr. Korir.
Key recommendations included:
- Strengthening coordination between the NBA and grassroots influencers to enhance biosafety awareness.
- Increasing funding and training programs to support biosafety capacity building.
- Enhancing communication channels and feedback mechanisms among institutions, including the media.