- The ban was lifted to help address a severe food shortage that has left 3.5 million in 23 counties on the brink of starvation.
- This figure is expected to hit the 4 million mark according to the National Drought Management Authority’s September report.
Image: ANDREW KASUKU
Some Nyeri residents have termed the decision by the state to lift the ban on GMOs as outright suicide.
Cereal vendor Titus Karinga has criticised the decision saying alternative sources of food should have been sought before resorting to GMO.
He said lifting the ban may turn out to be a costly gamble, saying many developed countries have already outlawed such products.
“Many countries have not lifted the ban on GMOs due to the health issues associated with them,” Karinga said.
However, some have supported the decision saying allowing GMO products in the country might be the only option to address food insecurity and the current drought.
Joseph Irungu has dismissed those criticising the state for lifting the ban saying there is no tangible evidence that such products pose any health risk to consumers.
Irungu, a cereal trader in Nyeri, said people have been consuming GMO products and no adverse effects have been documented anywhere.
He urged the government to expedite the process of importing GMO foods into the country saying, the move will be a game changer in the fight against drought.
“We are happy that the government has found a remedy to help address the current food shortage in the country. Those opposed to the importation of GMOs are alien to what is happening,” Irungu said.
He also criticised leaders opposing the move, urging them to instead provide food donations to the drought-affected areas.
The ban was lifted to help address a severe food shortage that has left 3.5 million in 23 counties on the brink of starvation.
This figure is expected to hit the 4 million mark according to the National Drought Management Authority’s September report.
However, different NGOs have also faulted the decision by President William Ruto to allow the importation of GMO products into the country.
Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya, Route to Food Initiative, and Greenpeace Africa have said that the rush was unnecessary.
They want a constructive dialogue with the public and food safety experts before the country can come up with an informed decision on the matter.
“We need to protect our local and indigenous seeds as envisioned in Article 11(3) b of the 2010 Constitution and embrace safe and sustainable food production approaches such as agroecology,” their statement read.
“We demand that the ban be reinstated and an inclusive participatory process be instituted to look into long-term and sustainable solutions to issues affecting food security and agricultural productivity.”
They also want a review of the biosafety policy through setting up a robust monitoring mechanism to aid in redress, should the GMO products cause harm to either humans or the environment.
The group has asked the state to ensure there is a transparent and mutually beneficial partnership among all relevant stakeholders.
This, they say, will avoid a situation whereby small-scale food producers are disadvantaged by unscrupulous multinationals who want to make a kill out of the current food crisis.
“Economic partnership and technology transfer agreements should be transparent, mutually beneficial, and strive to solve the problems of local small-scale farmers,” read the statement.
“They should also take into account local socio-economic and socio-political situations rather than advance a colonial multinational profiteering and dumping of goods model.”
Kenya is facing one of its worst food crises in decades following four consecutive failed rain seasons.
Already the government has started the process of distributing relief food to the affected counties even as some leaders ask Ruto to declare the current drought a national disaster.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris