ODM leader Raila Odinga has called upon the government to immediately reverse their decision on GMO foods until Kenyans have a robust debate on the matter.
In a statement on Sunday, Raila said the science on GMO foods and farming is at best extremely controversial and at worst incomplete.
"There is no scientific study thus far that has unequivocally cleared GMOs as fit for human consumption and the environment," he said.
He said studies that have come close to giving GMOs a clean bill of health are generally those sponsored by the biotechnology companies or their associates.
"We challenge the government to share with Kenyans the scientific study it is relying on to declare GMO maize as fit for our consumption and our environment," the ODM leader said.
Raila said GMOs can harm human and animal life and the entire national ecosystem.
"They can reduce or eliminate plant diversity," he said.
"It is a fact that once GMOs are introduced, it is virtually impossible to stop their transfer where natural crops are grown because of wind and insect pollination."
He said GMOs can completely wipe out native and natural crops leaving Kenyans dependent on seeds and foods produced by GMO multinationals.
The ODM leader said these foods pose a direct threat to health, farmers, soils, institutions and seeds.
"GMOs are a new form of colonialism that will leave us permanently at the mercy of malign foreign nations and greedy corporations. GMOs are an existential threat to Kenya’s food systems, ecosystems, and its human and plant life," he said.
In October, the government opened the gates for the importation and use of GMOs.
A statement by President William Ruto said the move was after considering many factors, including experts and technical reports on the adoption of biotechnology.
