[The week of September 5], the NBA [National Bio-Safety Authority] allowed Monsanto Kenya Ltd to conduct field trials on GM cotton, but before carrying out the tests, they have to do an environmental impact assessment, which has to be approved by Nema.

“We wish to let the public know that NBA has approved the environmental release of the Bt cotton,” said Dr Willy Tonui, chief executive officer of NBA, in a statement.

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Currently, Kenya is suffering from a serious shortage of cotton that has seen some factories close down for lack of raw material.

Foreign investors targeted by government for mass cotton production are reluctant to invest in the venture unless Kenya reverses the ban on GMO products as the firms have agreed to commit to the multi-billion-shilling venture if allowed to grow Bt cotton.