Religious leaders have asked the government to find other ways in the biotechnology space to address the food shortage crisis experienced in the country due to inadequate rainfall that has led to drought in many parts of the country, saying that the lifting of the ban on the importation, cultivation and consumption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is not the silver bullet that will remedy the situation.
The leaders drawn from the Christian, Hindu and Muslim religions led by ACK Diocese of Thika Bishop Julius Wanyoike have said that the decision by the government to lift the ban was rushed and did not follow the right public participation procedure.
While airing their concerns on the lifting of the GMO ban, Wanyoike called for the making public of professor Thauri’s committee report findings on GMO.
The leaders decried of genetic contamination that comes from gene editing of organisms which they have alleged to have increased the use of pesticides amidst the reports that the country is using harmful pesticides that have been banned in European countries. Also noting that this puts cultivation of indigenous seeds at risk of extinction.
“Replanting of GM/hybrid seeds cannot be sustained as their productivity decreases from season to the other and therefore farmers will eventually depend on sold seeds hence making farmers vulnerable …the local farmers will lose their indigenous seed through this genetic contamination,” said Wanyoike.
They challenged the government to allocate more funding to the agricultural sector.
“Only four percent of the budget is allocated to the agriculture sector yet it is a mainstay economy for more than sixty percent of Kenyans! this has limited extension support and general support to the sector at national and county level,” he added.
The reintroduction of GMO to combat food shortage has elicited mixed reactions in the political class, Azimio One Kenya coalition leadership led by Raila Odinga have been very vocal.
Raila said that they will fight the reintroduction of GMO in court as well as in farms.
“We believe that introducing them into Kenya in the current state of international uncertainty is to use Kenyans as guinea pigs, which we shall not allow. Even the poor and the hungry ought to have their rights and dignity protected,” Raila had said.
However, the Kenya University Biotechnology Consortium (KUBICO) on October 14 came out to de-politicise the debate on the government’s move to lift the ban on the importation of genetically modified foods, stating reasons as to why they agree with the move, noting that this would tackle the high food prices experienced in the country.
The Secretary General of KUBICO DR, Richard Ochieng stated there are four regulations set in place that provide strict guidelines, supervision and surveillance that allow the consumer to make informed choices under the biosafety act of 2009.
“All the regulations are in force and the GMO materials that have been made locally followed all the steps starting from lab research, confined field trial and green house, national performance trials and environmental release,” he stated.
“Labeling is done to ensure consumers have a choice on whether they want the GM food or not,” he added.
Maize has been at the center of the debate, given that the flour prices in the country are not affordable in many homes, this is caused by the deficit of maize.
According to the research carried out by KUBICO, the deficit stands at 2 metric tons which translates to 20 million bags per year.
Also, the research states that countries that import GMO maize at high levels appear to reduce the prices for the consumers.
