Kenya rolls out national elimination strategy for aflatoxins

KENYA – The Kenyan government, in partnership with key national institutions and with funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), has launched a five-year initiative aimed at eliminating aflatoxins from the country’s food systems.

Bringing together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, the initiative was formally introduced during the Kick-Off Meeting on Aflatoxin Surveillance and Management, held at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) headquarters in Nairobi.

Emphasizing the need to broaden the regulatory focus beyond formal markets, KEBS Managing Director, Esther Ngari, stated, “We are keen to ensure that rejected or substandard grains do not spill into informal markets or reach our schools. Every Kenyan deserves food that is both safe and of high quality.”

The aflatoxin burden in Kenya 

Reflecting her sentiments and underscoring the urgency of the issue, findings from a 60-year review (1960-2020) conducted in Kenya noted the highest total aflatoxin reported, at 58,000 μg/kg in maize. 

This figure significantly exceeds the current regulatory limit, which caps total aflatoxins in maize at 10 μg/kg.

The public health toll had at least 500 acute human illnesses and 200 deaths reported due to aflatoxins. 

In addition to the hot and humid tropical climate, which creates a favorable climate for fungal growth and toxin production, other key drivers included poor agronomic practices, low educational levels, and inadequate statutory regulations and sensitisation. 

Kenya’s high reliance on maize, a staple that is highly susceptible to aflatoxins, has worsened the problem, especially amid low dietary diversity, with detection and surveillance mechanisms remaining only marginally effective, leaving significant gaps in early intervention and risk control.

Beyond maize and its products, aflatoxin contamination has also been reported in a wide range of commonly consumed foods and products, including millet, peanuts, milk products, sorghum, rice, cassava, pigeon peas, and animal feed.

However, research efforts have primarily focused on maize, peanuts, animal feeds, and milk, highlighting the need for broader surveillance across diverse dietary sources.

Stakeholder insights

In alignment with this broader regulatory vision, Dr. Chris Wamalwa, Chairperson of the National Standards Council, stressed the importance of collaborative action, noting that the war cannot be won by KEBS alone. 

He explained that this is why they are working closely with academia, industry, farmers, and enforcement agencies, adding that prevention must start at the source, long before a product reaches the shelf.

Representing the private sector, Ms. Paloma Fernandes (OGW), CEO of the Cereal Millers Association, reaffirmed the industry’s shared responsibility.

“Food safety is non-negotiable. It is the one promise every producer must make and keep. We are encouraged by the government’s willingness to partner with us in strengthening the entire value chain,” Ms. Paloma Fernandes said.

From a scientific standpoint, Dr. Patrick Njage, Senior Scientist at the Technical University of Denmark, highlighted the cutting-edge innovations underpinning the initiative.

“This is not just about removing toxins, it’s about predictive science. With AI, genomic tools, and microbial interventions, we can prevent outbreaks before they begin and build lasting capacity for Kenya’s food safety future,” he added.

This project highlights Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding public health, enhancing food safety, and protecting livelihoods, particularly in the informal sector, where unsafe food often falls outside regulatory oversight.

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