1. The enduring search for a BRC in Kenya
Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga
Principal, Taita Taveta University College
(A constituent college of JKUAT)

2. Kenya-The Heart of Africa
Kenya is the home of “Out of Africa”, a place where setting out on an adventure into the wilderness became an age old tradition-

3. A Biodiversity Hotspot
Hakuna Matata

4. Key Challenges
Conservation and investment strategies that focus only on a few groups of organisms
Lack of ex-situ conservation facilities
Convoluted Research Authorization Process
Lack of a clear process for authorization and monitoring of potential dual use research i.e (Biosecurity mechanisms and Biosafety)
Lack of Investment in Biodiversity Information Portals
Lack of Investment in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Lack of clear framework for developing a bioeconomy
Lack of a framework to support benefit sharing with communities and other resource providers.

5. The Current Status-Microorganisms
No conservation strategy
Individual Collections belonging to scientists
No source of reference as well as commercial strains
No source of strains for educational/research purposes
No Patent Depository facility
No depository for isolated and characterised strains

6. Microbial Culture Collections in Africa
Source: World Data Centre for Microorganisms (

7. Activities and Timelines
Activity
Organizations
2003
Initial workshops on ex-situ collections in East Africa
CABI-East Africa/CABI-UK
2004
Workshop for KBRC
NCST/CABI/DSMZ/DAAD
Proposal Development for KBRC
NCST
GBRCN Activities (in Kenya and Germany)
Development of Bioscience Policy
GBRCN
BMBF and DSMZ/JKUAT
2012
Kenya Bioscience Policy finalized
NCST/MOHEST
2013?
UNEP-GEF Proposal
KWS/JKUAT/UoN/DSMZ/
Verrenium

8. Four Issues-different origins
Biological Resources
Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources
Biosecurity
Potential for Dual Use
Safe use of Biological Resources
Bioinformatics
Harnessing Computation Power in Biology
Biodiversity Information Facility Portal
KENBIF linked to the GBIF

9. The Bioscience Committee
National Council for Science and Technology-Coordinator
National Environmental Management Authority
Kenya Wildlife Service
National Museums of Kenya
Institute of Primate Research
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
Department of Veterinary Services
Universities (Expertise, Specialists)
Kenya Intellectual Property Institute (KIPI)
Kenya Medical Research Institute
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Security Agencies
Attorney General (State Law Office)

10. FUNDING Biological Resources Research Information Biosecurity/
Biosafety
Technology
Development
Bioeconomy
Conservation
In-situ
Ex-situ
Research Authorization
Informatics Tools
Bioterrorism
Technology development
Patenting
Access
Basic
Biodiversity Information
Laboratory safety
Incubation
Scaling up
Sustainable Use
Applied
Databases
Biological weapons
Proof of Concept
Marketing
Industrial
Catalogues
Toxic Agents
Benefit sharing
FUNDING

11. Overall Goal
To institute a coordinated mechanism for the prudent management and safe exploitation of biological resources in Kenya, to support the development of a Bioeconomy.

12. Objectives
To establish an institutional arrangement for ex-situ conservation of biological material and management of biodiversity information
To establish assessment, monitoring and evaluation mechanism for biosafety, biosecurity, bioterrorism and dual-use research in conjunction with security agencies.
To establish a sustainable funding mechanism for capacity building including infrastructure development, technical training and resource mobilization in biosciences and related services.
To support the development of a bioeconomy.

13. National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation
Kenya National Biosciences Institute (KenNaBI)
BBRAC
KWS
NEMA
KEPHIS
KIPI
NMK
DVS
NBA
KenNaBI
KEFRI
Kenya Biological Resource Centre
Technology Promotion Department
Repository, Patent Deposits, R&D, Identification, Capacity Building
Kenya Biological Resources Information Department
Bioinformatics Unit

14. Kenya Biological Resource Centre
Culture Collection
Microorganisms, Cells, Germplasm
Patent Deposit for microorganism and Cell cultures
Biological Resources Information Management Department
Biodiversity Information Portal (Facility)
Bioinformatics/Computation Biology
Technology and Innovation Support Unit
Incubation support
Research-Industry linkages

15. Going forward Policy approved by Parliamentary Committee on Education
Policy to be tabled in Cabinet for final approval and funding
NCST continues with activities working with relevant Institutes to promote and assess existing repositories on biosecurity related issues

16. Meanwhile
The Kenya Wildlife Service is developing a proposal for UNEP-GEF
To access funding to support capacity building and infrastructure development at the proposed BRC
To strengthen bio-prospecting in the Soda Lakes
Support Research Industry Linkages
Support the strengthening and implementation of ABS legislation in Kenya
Includes DSMZ, JKUAT, Verrenium (formerly Diversa), KWS and University of Nairobi.

17. …and The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) has
Included the BRC in the Medium Term Plan for Kenya’s Development Plan under the STI sector
Committed to support a Pilot BRC at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology JKUAT

18. Alexander von Humboldt Foundation funding
Humboldt Kolleg in Kenya (July 2012)
AGNES-Africa German Network of Excellence in Science
A sub-network focusing on Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
Covering Eastern Africa
Summer schools on Mol. Biol. /Bioinformatics