Nationwide Biosafety Authority (NBA) Chairman David Wamatsi (far proper), accompanied by Performing Chief Govt Officer Dr Ann Karimi, meets African Agricultural Expertise Basis (AATF) Chairman Prof. Aggrey Ambali (second from proper) on the sidelines of the seventeenth Convention of the Events to the Conference on Organic Range (COP17), held in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026. PHOTO/NBA.
By PATRICK MAYOYO
Kenya’s Nationwide Biosafety Authority (NBA) has pledged to strengthen science-based regulation and worldwide cooperation to guard biodiversity, safeguard public well being and promote accountable scientific innovation throughout Africa.
NBA chairman David Wamatsi made the dedication through the opening session of the seventeenth Convention of the Events to the Conference on Organic Range (CBD COP17), happening in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026.
Mr Wamatsi mentioned Kenya should play an energetic function in shaping worldwide selections on biodiversity and biosafety, arguing that African international locations ought to have a stronger voice in world environmental policymaking.
“As Kenya and Africa proceed to strengthen their regulatory establishments, our presence at these worldwide boards is important in making certain that our priorities, scientific views and growth aspirations are represented,” he instructed delegates.
He added: “Kenya’s voice is Africa’s voice. Africa should not solely take part in world conversations, however should assist form the selections that outline our future.”
The NBA is Kenya’s nationwide competent authority for implementing the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a global settlement governing the secure dealing with, transport and use of dwelling modified organisms ensuing from trendy biotechnology.
Its mandate contains overseeing the switch, dealing with and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to guard human and animal well being and the setting.
Mr Wamatsi mentioned the authority would proceed working with stakeholders to help meals safety and diet whereas making certain that scientific advances are managed responsibly.
The convention brings collectively governments, scientists, policymakers and environmental organisations to deal with biodiversity loss and speed up implementation of worldwide conservation commitments.
A key focus is the Kunming-Montreal International Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, which units targets for halting and reversing nature loss by 2030.
CBD Govt Secretary Astrid Schomaker. PHOTO/ PHOTO/ IISD/ENB – Mike Muzurakis.
Amongst its central ambitions are conserving at the very least 30 per cent of the world’s land and marine areas, restoring 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems, decreasing air pollution and defending threatened species.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the opening ceremony, whereas Surroundings Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan was elected president of COP17 for a two-year time period.
United Nations Secretary-Common António Guterres additionally participated in high-level occasions forward of the convention, together with the Leaders for Nature Summit held in Yerevan on 16 October.
African priorities featured prominently within the opening discussions, with Ousseynou Kassé, chair of the African Group of Negotiators, describing the summit as a vital alternative to mobilise collective motion in opposition to biodiversity loss.
Financing stays a serious problem as international locations search the sources wanted to guard ecosystems, restore degraded landscapes and implement agreed conservation targets.
For Kenya, the discussions have implications past environmental safety. Efficient biosafety regulation is more and more necessary as international locations weigh the potential advantages of biotechnology in opposition to considerations about ecological dangers, meals programs and public well being.
The NBA’s participation displays Kenya’s said dedication to evidence-based decision-making and worldwide collaboration. Nonetheless, the broader check will probably be translating commitments made at worldwide boards into efficient nationwide regulation, stronger enforcement and measurable environmental outcomes.
As negotiations proceed in Yerevan, African international locations are looking for to make sure that world biodiversity commitments are matched by ample financing, scientific capability and help for implementation.
