Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience © International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Copyright: ISAAA 2010 All rights reserved. This document is a product of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter). Whereas ISAAA encourages the global sharing of knowledge and information, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or part by any means, electronically, mechanically, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the copyright owners. Reproduction of this publication, or parts thereof, for educational and non-commercial purposes is encouraged with due acknowledgement, subsequent to permission being granted by ISAAA. Citation: Karembu, M., D. Otunge, and D. Wafula, Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience, ISAAA AfriCenter, Nairobi, Kenya, 2010 Layout and Design: Anthony Nderitu, ISAAA AfriCenter Publication Orders For your copy of this publication please contact: ISAAA AfriCenter PO Box 70, ILRI Campus, Old Naivasha Rd, Uthiru, Nairobi 00605, Kenya. Phone: +254 - 20-4223618 Fax: +254 - 20-4223634 Email: [email protected] For more information about ISAAA, please visit www.isaaa.org and www.isaaa.org/kc or contact the ISAAA Center near you. ISAAA AmeriCenter ISAAA AfriCenter ISAAA SEAsiaCenter 417 Badfield Hall, PO Box 70, 00605, DAPO Box 7777, Cornell University, ILRI Campus, c/o IRRI, Ithaca NY 14853, Uthiru, Nairobi Metro Manila, United States of America. Kenya. The Philippines . ii Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to recognize the tireless efforts and contributions of the Biosafety Bill Consortium members towards the enactment of the Biosafety Act 2009. It was through a lot of hard work and intellectual tact that the law passed. The support received from public and private sector institutions, the academic community, various media houses, development partners and a number of agencies under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system is greatly appreciated. We acknowledge the contributions of Wandera Ojanji for making the initial draft of this document and all those who helped in final editing. iii Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... iii LISTS OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................. 1 CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 3 Rationale for Biosafety Law ................................................................................................... 3 The Origins of Biosafety Laws ............................................................................................... 3 Domestication of International Obligations .......................................................................... 5 Why Agricultural Biotechnology? ........................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................... 9 The Process of Drafting the Biosafety Bill ............................................................................. 9 The Draft Biosafety Bill ....................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................ 15 Cabinet Approval of the Draft Biosafety Bill ....................................................................... 15 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 17 Debating the Biosafety Bill 2007 ......................................................................................... 17 Parliamentary Discussions on the Biosafety Bill 2007 ....................................................... 17 The Biosafety Bill 2008 ........................................................................................................ 20 Parliamentary Discussions on the Biosafety Bill 2008 ....................................................... 25 CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................................... 28 Presidential Assent .............................................................................................................. 28 CHAPTER SIX ....................................................................................................................... 30 Opposition outside Parliament ............................................................................................ 30 Opposition in Parliament .................................................................................................... 35 The Alternative Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2008 ...................................................... 36 CHAPTER SEVEN ................................................................................................................ 39 Outreach Strategies in Favor of the Biosafety Bill .............................................................. 39 Formation of the Biosafety Consortium ............................................................................... 42 The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) .................................. 44 Production and Dissemination of IEC Materials ................................................................ 48 The Role of Public Universities in Capacity Building ........................................................ 48 The National Biotechnology Awareness Strategy (BioAWARE) ........................................ 49 The Role of the Mass Media ................................................................................................. 50 CHAPTER EIGHT ................................................................................................................. 54 Lesons Learnt ....................................................................................................................... 54 Build Consensus Among Key Government Institutions ..................................................... 54 Determine What Needs to be Achieved Through Advocacy ................................................ 54 Build Alliances and Champions for Support ....................................................................... 54 Build Internal Capacity to Handle the Issues ...................................................................... 55 Develop and Articulate a Comprehensive Communication Strategy .................................. 55 Stakeholder Mapping for Effective Engagement ................................................................. 56 Involvement of MPs in the Process ..................................................................................... 56 Media Strategy..................................................................................................................... 57 Public Involvement .............................................................................................................. 57 Resource Mobilization Strategy .......................................................................................... 58 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 58 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 59 iv Developing a Biosafety Law: Lessons from the Kenyan Experience LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AATF: African Agricultural Technology Foundation ABSF: African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum ABSPII: Agricultural Biotechnology Support Programme (Phase Two) AHBFI: Africa Harvest Biotechnology Foundation International AG: Attorney General ASARECA: Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa BioAWARE: National Biotechnology Awareness Strategy BioEARN: East African Regional Programme and Research Network for Biotechnology, Bio-safety and Biotechnology Policy Development BCH: Biosafety Clearing House BTA: Biotechnology Trust Africa CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity CEBIB: Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (UoN) CIMMYT: International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center COMESA: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COP: Conference of Parties CSOs: Civil Society Organizations DVS: Department of Veterinary Services EAC: East African Community ECABIC: Eastern and Central Africa Biotechnology Information Center GEF: Global Environment Facility GMO: Genetically Modified Organism IBC: Institutional Biosafety Committee ICO: International Consumer organization, ISAAA: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications ITDG: Intermediate Technology Development Group KARI: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute KBIC: Kenya Biotechnology Information Center KBioC: Kenya Biodiversity Coalition KC: Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology KEBS: Kenya Bureau of Standards KEGCO: Kenya GMO Concern Group KENFAP: Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers KEPHIS: Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service KESSFF: