Resist GMOs, it's slow death – Ekuru Aukot

Debate on GMO maize importation has continued to draw mixed reactions online with the safety of genetically modified foods as the bone of contention. 

Opinion remains divided over government's plan to import 10 million bags of GMO maize to avert hunger.

Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot urged Kenyans to resist any attempts for importation of the maize 

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Aukot said importation of GMOs is a knee-jack reaction that will do the country more harm than good.

"Resist GMOs in Kenya. It's slow death. Don't allow yourselves to be killed because of what they think is a "quick fix" to our problems," he said.

He wondered why the government hasn't bought maize from local farmers if the goal was urgent intervention to save Kenyans from starvation.  

"GMO is an excuse," he said. "Why can't this government (we all supported) not buy maize from our farmers?" he posed.

Trade CS Moses Kuria on Thursday made controversial remarks concerning the importation of GMO maize and insinuated that the government knows the food is bad for Kenyans.

But he justified the lifting of the ban on GMO food saying Kenyans are already facing a myriad of fatal risks and adding one extra risk in the name of GMOs ins't something that should be cause for alarm.

But Aukot dismissed this school of thought with contempt. 

"You don't feed people poison in the pretext of saving their lives," the politician said in a statement on Twitter Saturday. 

A number of netizens, however, differed with him saying drought has pushed thousands of Kenyans on the verge of starvation and they wouldn't care to know if the food they will be fed is GMO or organic. 

"For now Doc, let's save lives through whatever means. The people in Turkana eating mizoga and soil don't give a hoot about your GMO science. They just need to keep alive," one said. 

"It's not poison, poison is the chemical residues in your tomatoes, cabbages, sukuma, spinach that's sitting in the supermarket where you walk into daily for your groceries," added another.

Aukot, however, warned them that the negative effects of GMOs will be witnessed many years to come.

"Hopefully, you and I will be here to witness the failure of GMOs and the danger it will cause to our population," he said.

In the alternative, Aukot said the government should embrace irrigation and grow organic food 

"Together, let us help our govt to appreciate the dangers of GMO," he said.