Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has opposed plans by the government to allow a six-month duty-free importation of GMO and non-GMO maize into the country.
Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria is pushing the controversial government resolution that has already gotten cabinet approval to have Kenya open doors to the genetically modified maize.
“The importation of maize should stop until the government mops up all this year’s crop and avoid lowering prices that doesn’t match the inputs incurred by maize farmers,” pleaded Cherargei.
Kuria said adding GMO to the list of potentially death causative factors in Kenya is no harm.
A section of scientists, lobby groups and human rights crusaders have raised a red flag over potentially health risks the GMO maize will expose the Kenyan population to.
“It is completely callous for rich idlers and Twitterati with a bowl of pizza and fishfingers to continue attacking our GMO policy while Hustlers are dying of hunger and poisoned donkey meat. You will burn in hell.” Kuria has said today morning on his Twitter handle.
Within the the six-month duty-free window period, importers will have the leeway to ship either GMO or non-GMO maize.
Maize farmers from the country’s food basket mainly from Kitale and North Rift have also opposed the move.
Early last month, there was heated debate that followed the announcement by the government that it had lifted the ban on importation of GMO food crops and animal feeds in a decision intended to cushion the country against the adverse effects of climate change.
