•Tell Kuria to cease the issuance of the gazette notice to allow importation of ten million duty free maize.
• The legislators also claim that they were aware that no Cabinet approva on maize importation.
MPs drawn from Rift Valley have urged the government to immediately stop the importation of duty-free maize into the country. https://bit.ly/3GCBhOk
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
MPs drawn from Rift Valley have urged the government to immediately stop the importation of duty free maize into the country.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, the legislators led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei protested the importation of maize.
He claimed the cartels are back in business .
“It seems there is a deliberate move to continue killing maize farming in the country as was seen in the previous regime," Cherargei said.
"The cartels are now back into business and this time they appear more aggressive and ruthless."
The legislators also claimed that they were aware that no Cabinet approval had been effected on maize importation claiming the push is masterminded by cartels.
They also questioned why a ship with 10,000 tons of maize had docked in Mombasa with no gazette notice issued.
“We seek to know reasons as to why ships are already docking in Mombasa port without the laid down legal procedure in place,” Cherargei said.
As the result, the MPs called on CS Moses Kuria to cease the issuance of the gazette notice to allow importation of the duty free maize until April next year.
"We don't need to rush until policies, rules and regulations to govern the use of GMOs in the country are made clear,"Cherargei said.
The lawmakers urged the committe for Trade, Culture and Industry to summon CS Kuria and his Agriculture counterpart Linturi Mithika on the maize issue.
In addition, the legislators said they were ready to discuss issues of GMOs to find what is best for Kenya.
As parliament we are ready discuss GMOs with necessary consultations including stakeholders but not limited to MPs,"Cherargei said.
The arrival of imported maize at the Port of Mombasa has triggered a public outcry.
Government Printer has confirmed that it has not received any gazette notice on maize importation.
Government Printer CEO Mwenda Njoka on Tuesday told the Star that no notice had reached his office at the time of publication of this article.
“I can confirm that as we speak now ( 10:09 am), we have not received any gazette notice,” he said.
Last Thursday, Kuria announced the government had made the tough call to allow the duty-free importation of 10 million bags of GMO maize over the next six months.
“Tomorrow, I’m signing a gazette notice to allow for the importation of GMO maize duty-free, until we achieve food security because that is our cardinal responsibility as government,” Kuria said then.
Kuria said he will issue a gazette notice to authorise the importation and added that the government is ready to shoulder the potential backlash that could follow the decision.