NAGOYA 10TH ANNIVERSARY AND LAUNCHING OF LAKE BOGORIA NATIONAL RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2019 TO 2029

Professor Walter Oyawa the DG NACOSTI making remarks during the celebrations of Nagoya Protocol 10th anniversary and the Launch of Lake Bogoria National Reserve Management Plan, 2019-2029 on 5th November 2020 at Lake Bogoria Spa Hotel in Baringo County. 

The Director General NACOSTI and Dr. Benson Mburu of Earth and Space Sciences Schedule, NACOSTI had been Invited by the Governor Baringo who was hosting the celebrations of Nagoya Protocol on Access Benefit Sharing (ABS) 10th anniversary.

Nagoya protocol on Access Benefit Sharing (ABS) and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety are the two protocols under the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity (UNCBD) which Kenya is a signatory hence part of our domestic laws as per our constitution. NACOSTI and its precursor NCST has been participating in the Global and National meetings that is held bi-annually and was the focal point for Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety from 2003 to 2009 when NBA was established and the focal point moved to NBA. During the period NCST hosted the National Biosafety Committee that developed the National Biotechnology Development Policy of 2006 and the Biosafety Act of 2009. NACOSTI is one of the implementing agencies of the Nagoya Protocol that fulfills the third objective of the UNCBD on Access Benefit Sharing (ABS) of Genetic Resources for research and associated purposes. Other players include NEMA, KWS, KEPHIS, KFS, DVS, NMK, County Governments and Local Communities. Nagoya protocols is assisting developing countries to provide their Genetic Resources (GR) and Traditional Knowledge (TK) with legally bidding and globally acknowledged Materials Transfers Agreements (MTAs) that captures Mutually agreed Terms (MAT) and Prior informed Consent (PIC) signed by County Governments on behalf of local communities who owns the GR and holds the TK.

The meeting also launched the Lake Bogoria National Reserve Management Plan, 2019-2029. The plan was developed through participatory process involving the Endorois Welfare Council (EWC) representing the Indigenous Endorois Community around Lake Bogoria, Baringo County Government (BCG) and Kenya wildlife Services (KWS). The funding was provided by GEF and implemented by UNEP through KWS in a project titled “Developing the Microbial Biotechnology Industry from Kenya’s Soda Lakes in line with Nagoya Protocol”.” GIZ Access Benefit Sharing (ABS)-Initiative, through Endorois Welfare Council (EWC) funded the Bio-cultural Protocol (BCP) and some of the Community engagement Process.

During his remarks, Prof. Oyawa thanked the organizers of the celebration for a a job well done, and informed participants that NACOSTI as the regulator of STI Sector is happy to be associated with development agenda in the counties. He informed participants of NACOSTI’s mandate, as well as its key functions that include licensing research and registering Research Institutions. Prof. Oyawa noted that NACOSTI has stream-lined the licensing process for research, and registration of research Institutions. He further stated that NACOSTI is ready to engage stakeholders to extensively promote research work and Science, Technology and Innovation activities in Kenya, especially in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic. The occasion was also graced by the CAS Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife RTD. Inspector General of Kenya Police Service Mr. Joseph Kipchirchir Boinnet and the Principal Secretary Professor Fred Segor.