Investments, Trade and Industry CS Moses Kuria has said that government will allow importation of duty free maize for the next six months.
According to Kuria, this is in efforts to help mitigate the food situation in the country.
The Cabinet secretary said he will be signing relevant instruments to allow for the same.
The directive will allow importation of GMO and non-GMO maize into the country.
"In view of the food situation in the country, I shall be signing instruments to allow duty free imports of GMO and non GMO Maize for the next 6 months," Kuria said on Thursday.
In October, the government of Kenya opened the gates for the importation and use of Genetically Modified Crops, popularly known as GMOs.
A statement by President William Ruto said the move was after considering many factors, including various expert and technical reports on the adoption of biotechnology.
The reports included Kenya’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United States of America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
“Cabinet vacated its earlier decision of 8th November 2012 prohibiting the open cultivation of genetically modified crops and the importation of food crops and animal feeds produced through biotechnology innovations; effectively lifting the ban on Genetically Modified Crops. By dint of the executive action open cultivation and importation of White (GMO) Maize is now authorized,” said the statement.
The government said that this would be a quick way to deal with the ravaging drought in some parts of the country, which has affected at least 23 counties.
