- Outgoing Cabinet lifted ban on Monday and President announced it as a move to increase food shortage in hungry nation.
- Azimio MPs say the decision is weighty and contentious but was rushed through without public participation.
Image: PSCU
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya lawmakers on Tuesday faulted President William Ruto’s lifting of the 10-year-long ban on cultivation and exportation of white maize.
He only mentioned white maize, not all GMO crops.
"...open cultivation and importation of white (GMO) maize is allowed," Ruto said.
BT maize has been under piloting projects since 2014.
The MPs led by Azimio Majority leader-designate in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi said the decision is weighty and serious public participation was required.
They indicated that all GMO crops will be allowed to be cultivated and seeds imported.
Senators Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga), Dan Maanzo (Makueni) and Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi) argued the health concerns raised about GMO foods have not been addressed.
The lawmakers also questioned why the head of state used the outgoing Cabinet to make such a serious decision, instead of waiting for the new Cabinet.
“This is a very weighty and contentious matter. Kenyans needed to be told and understand what informed the decision of the Cabinet. It needed more transparency from the Cabinet,” Wandayi said.
“What has changed since 2012 that made the Cabinet change the decision made then?"
The leaders were criticising the Cabinet's decision to lift the decade-long ban in government’s fresh move to make the country food secure.
In lifting the ban the government said it was acting in conformity with the recommendation of the Task Force to Review Matters Relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety.
It said the decision followed the guidelines of the National Biosafety Authority on all applicable international treaties, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Sifuna said such a major policy departure requires broad-based consultation, including explaining to local farmers what to expect in terms of prices of produce.
“This is a conversation that requires we involve everyone and carry everyone along.," he said.
"Although many of us believe in science, we need it to be explained to us because there are serious concerns about the safety of GMOs,” Sifuna said.
“Even the Cabinet is an outgoing Cabinet and we don’t know what sort of pressure he has put them under. Do they really have the responsibility and mandate of Kenyans to make the decision without public participation?"
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said it is suspect that the President chose to push the decision through the outgoing Cabinet.
He said that the decision could face legal hurdles given that public views were not sought before the declaration was made.
“We needed to have proper public participation where concerns, including health, would be raised," Osotsi said.
"And they should be addressed before a decision is made but here is a classic case of no public participation. I am sure people will go to court,” Osotsi said.
Maanzo said the rush to lift the ban was motivated by the greed of state operatives in collusion with multinational GMO companies.
“It is wrong, it is rushed and it is very injurious to our nation," he said.
"And it is motivated by greed for money they are going to make by colluding with international companies dealing with GMOs; it has not been properly done,” Maanzo said.
ODM National Treasurer Timothy Bosire said the government plan to lift the ban on GMOs is unfortunate and ill-advised at a time when there has been no scientific evidence to support the reintroduction of GMO products.
"This is something that must be deeply rethought given that over the years, GMO products have been cited for great health effects among the population," Bosire said.
The politician said the President had started with a false beginning by making fundamental policy shifts involving people's health and safety without broad consultation.
(Edited by V. Graham)