Since its inception on April 1, 2025, Chuka University has been a key collaborator alongside the University of Nairobi, the Technical University of Denmark, and other stakeholders in the RECLAIM-KE Project, a five-year campaign to eliminate aflatoxin contamination from Kenya’s food chains. The initiative is funded by the Danish aid agency DANIDA, with Chuka University receiving Ksh. 66 million over the project’s duration to support research, innovation, and capacity building. The project focuses on identifying, managing, and eliminating aflatoxin-producing fungi in the country’s food value chain.
The funding will support a post-doctoral researcher, one research fellow, two research assistants, as well as PhD and two Master’s students. The project was officially launched on June 10, 2025, at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) headquarters.
Although based in Kenya, RECLAIM-KE is a global academic collaboration, bringing together Kenyan and Danish expertise for nationwide implementation, covering farms, markets, and food processing points. The initiative addresses aflatoxin contamination, a decades-old challenge that has undermined food safety, public health, and export competitiveness.
Using farmer-friendly agronomic practices, smart surveillance in both formal and informal markets, and advanced tools such as AI modeling, genomic analysis, and microbial biocontrol, the project aims to predict and prevent contamination outbreaks before they occur.
Chuka University is …… Inspiring Environmental Sustainability for Better Life
