Kenyan farmers won a significant legal battle after the Court of Appeal ruled against the government’s decision to lift the ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) on the 7th of March 2025. This ruling reinforces Kenya’s commitment to food sovereignty, environmental sustainability and the protection of smallholder farmers from corporate control. . The case was filed by the Kenya Peasants League (KPL) and the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya (BIBA), along with 18 other organizations; challenging the government’s 2022 decision to lift the ban.
In a press release, David Otieno, a representative of KPL, welcomed the ruling, calling it a major victory for small-scale farmers across Kenya. “GMOs are not the solution to food insecurity in our country. Instead, they increase dependency on multinational corporations, threaten biodiversity and reduce farmers’ control over their food systems,” he said.
Why the ban matters
The court’s decision reflects widespread concerns about GMOs, including their potential impact on health, the environment and farmers’ economic independence. Before introducing GMOs, the government must establish a clear legal framework to address these critical concerns. The long-term health effects of GMO consumption remain a subject of global debate. Some studies suggest potential links between GMOs and allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance, prevalence in different types of cancer and other health complications; which then means that introducing GMOs into the country’s food system could pose unforeseen risks to public health.
Genetically modified crops, particularly those made for herbicide resistance, can contribute to loss of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. The heavy use of some herbicides has been linked to soil depletion, water contamination, increased mortality in animals and human beings among others.
Additionally, cross-pollination between GMO crops and indigenous plant varieties threatens the survival of traditional seeds, which have adapted to Kenya’s unique climate and farming conditions over generations. Cross-pollination also threatens traditional seed varieties that have adapted to Kenya’s climate.
Clarion call
The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) is calling on the government to invest in agroecology which: protects biodiversity by encouraging diverse crops and livestock, keeps soil healthy by using organic fertilizers and natural farming methods, builds climate resilience by reducing dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers and ensures farmers’ independence by preserving traditional seed systems. By focusing on agroecology, Kenya can secure long-term food production without harming the environment or making farmers reliant on expensive foreign seeds. The court’s ruling is a big win for farmers, environmental activists, and food security advocates. It sends a strong message that Kenya’s agricultural policies must put farmers and consumers first, not corporate interests. Farmers across the country remain united in their mission to protect Kenya’s food systems, ensuring a future built on sustainability, biodiversity and local seed sovereignty. This victory is not just for farmers it is for all Kenyans who care about safe, sustainable and independent food production.