Role of Institutional Biosafety Committees in Kenya

In Kenya, like in many developing countries, the developments in biotechnology are ahead of formulation and implementation of national and institutional biosafety guidelines. Many institutions are involved in recombinant DNA technology using Organisms and systems that require handling under stringent biosafety conditions but because of absence of such guidelines, compromises could easily be made. The consensus in Kenya is that both national and institutional biosafety guidelines should be established to enhance agricultural development through the safe use of biotechnology. This has been spearheaded by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute which has formulated guidelines, adapting ideas from other institutions that are in line with Kenya's unique requirements in biotechnology.