A seed breeding expert has assured the High Court in Kisumu that Kenyan farmers will retain full autonomy over their crop choices, emphasizing that the adoption of genetically modified (GM) maize will be entirely voluntary if its commercialisation proceeds.

Dr. Stephen Mugo, an expert witness for the respondents, testified before Justice Joe Omido that the introduction of Bt maize (Zea mays MON 89034) is designed to offer farmers an additional tool, not a mandatory replacement for their traditional practices.

“Farmers will retain full freedom to choose between GM, hybrid, improved, or indigenous seed varieties,” Dr. Mugo stated during cross-examination by petitioners’ lawyers. “In fact, many farmers customarily enhance indigenous varieties through natural cross-pollination. Cross-pollination with Bt maize does not eliminate indigenous varieties; rather, it may introduce beneficial traits such as pest resistance.”

The testimony is part of a ongoing case filed by Mr. Moses Pius Ouma and other petitioners against the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). The petitioners are seeking to block the open-field cultivation and commercial distribution of Bt maize, which was approved by the NBA in 2025.

A Solution to Mounting Pest Pressures

Dr. Mugo urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the technology is critical for addressing Kenya’s urgent food security challenges and mounting pest pressures. He highlighted the severe economic losses caused by maize stem borers and the invasive fall armyworm (FAW).

According to court submissions, Kenya loses more than 400,000 metric tonnes of maize annually to stem borers, representing losses exceeding USD 90 million. The situation worsened with the arrival of fall armyworm in 2016. In 2017 alone, a quarter of Kenya’s 2.9 million hectares of maize was infested, leading to losses of over 134,000 metric tonnes valued at more than USD 30 million.

Dr. Mugo contrasted the Bt technology with current pest management strategies, which he described as costly and hazardous. “Currently used chemical control methods pose problems of high pesticide costs and application risks, direct and indirect damage to human and livestock health, damage to the environment, and development of resistance to the pesticides,” he told the Court.

Bt Maize: One Tool in the Farmer’s Kit

Developed using modern biotechnology, Bt maize MON 89034 is designed to protect itself against targeted pests like stem borers and fall armyworm. The application for its commercialisation was jointly submitted by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).

Dr. Mugo clarified that the technology is not a standalone miracle cure but an integrated tool for boosting productivity. “Yield increases in farmers’ fields are ultimately the result of many factors, including genetics, agronomy, soil fertility, water availability, pest and weed control, and GMO traits, which are one tool among several used to improve crop performance,” he explained.

He further pointed to Kenya’s experience with Bt cotton, introduced over five years ago, as evidence that the technology can be integrated without market monopolization or farmer disputes over pollen flow.

The hearing is scheduled to continue on June 2 and 3, 2026, as the court examines the scientific, regulatory, and food security implications of commercialising Bt maize in Kenya.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/farming-news/kenyan-high-court-bt-maize-voluntary-food-security/https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bt-maize-farming-in-kenya.jpghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bt-maize-farming-in-kenya-150x150.jpg2026-03-02T16:17:32+00:00FarmersTrendFarming NewsA seed breeding expert has assured the High Court in Kisumu that Kenyan farmers will retain full autonomy over their crop choices, emphasizing that the adoption of genetically modified (GM) maize will be entirely voluntary if its commercialisation proceeds.Dr. Stephen Mugo, an expert witness for the respondents, testified before...FarmersTrendjohn doefarmerstrend@gmail.comAdministratorFarmers Trend Ltd.