Nakuru Farmers, Lobbies protest State’s GMO decision

Farmers and food security experts in Nakuru have condemned the move by the Government to lift the ban on genetically modified crops.

They pegged their disgruntlement on the lack of public participation provided by the constitution and further, expressed socioeconomic and public deception concerns.

President William Ruto two weeks ago announced that the Cabinet had effectively lifted the decade-old ban on openly cultivating and importing genetically modified crops.

In a joint statement today, the groups under the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) said the abrupt decision “essentially curtails the freedom of Kenyans to choose what they want to eat.”

Karagathi Njoroge from Maendeleo Endelevu Action Program a member of PELUM called for the ban to be reinstated immediately and for an “inclusive participatory process” to look into food security issues.

Njoroge also argued that the introduction of genetically modified organisms hurts the growing organic export market and creates an unfair situation for Kenyan farmers, 80 per cent of whom are farming on a small scale.

“GMOs will put at risk our indigenous seed and plant varieties,” Njoroge said

Daniel Maingi, a practitioner in science and policy said, “The Cabinet disregarded the fundamental precautionary principle and acted in utter contempt of the interests of farmers, food consumers and the overall public.”

Maingi wants the government to reinstate the ban and hold an inclusive participatory process, protect indigenous seeds and extend support to farmers, review biosafety policy and regulatory framework, make public all economic and technology agreements and roll out public awareness campaigns across the country.

Slow Food Kenya representative Elfus Masanga urged the government to look at food security with wholesomeness.

He said the state should assess the effects of GMO crops on the ecosystem and make legislation that protects indigenous seeds.

“GMOs can be there for pharmaceutical purposes as we understand our people suffering from diabetes require insulin, but Kenya is not ready for agricultural GMOs,” Masanga said.

The ban on genetically modified crops was imposed on November 21, 2012 following a Cabinet and presidential decree. It was lifted through a memo dated Monday, October 3, 2022.

The ban prohibited open cultivation of genetically modified crops and the importation of food crops and animal feeds.

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