Article 43(1)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya guarantees every person the right to be fre…
Motion text
THAT, aware that, Article 43(1)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya guarantees every person the right to be free from hunger and to have adequate food of acceptable quality; cognizant of the fact that, aflatoxin contamination, caused by toxic substances produced by certain fungi, remains a significant public health, food safety and economic threat in Kenya, with exposure associated with acute poisoning, chronic liver damage, cellular DNA damage and an increased risk of liver cancer; noting that, surveillance data has demonstrated widespread aflatoxin contamination in Kenya’s staple foods, particularly maize and maize products, as well as animal feeds and other food products, with some samples recording aflatoxin levels substantially above the national permissible threshold of 10 parts per billion; acknowledging that biological control technology, particularly Aflasafe KE01, developed locally by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), using safe and non-toxic indigenous fungal strains, provides a scientifically validated and field- proven pre-harvest intervention for the prevention and control of aflatoxin contamination; further acknowledging that, field applications of Aflasafe KE01, including large-scale demonstrations at the Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Scheme and in Meru County, have substantially reduced aflatoxin contamination in harvested maize; concerned that, despite the local manufacture of Aflasafe KE01 at KALRO Katumani, the application cost, estimated at approximately KES 1,000 per acre, remains a significant barrier to adoption by smallholder farmers, who constitute the majority of Kenya’s agricultural producers; recognising the need for a preventive and integrated approach to food safety that addresses aflatoxin contamination at the farm level while strengthening public awareness, agricultural extension, food surveillance and health monitoring; NOW THEREFORE, this House resolves that the National Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, incorporates Aflasafe KE01 as a subsidized biological agricultural input under the National Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme, prioritises its targeted provision and application in high- risk Agro-ecological zones and identified aflatoxin-endemic hotspots, particularly in the Eastern and Coastal regions, major irrigation schemes and other areas with a demonstrated history of aflatoxin contamination.
Tracker remarks
Awaiting debate
Source: parliament.go.ke. Last updated 17 Oct 2026.