Govt will not import GMO foods, Sambili assures Parliament

Written by  Daniel Saenyi

The government will not import Genetically Modified (GMO) foods until all measures to guarantee safety are put in place, Parliament was told Thursday.
Genetically modified maize has been a major issue in the country since the maize shortage issue came up early this year. As much as it promises to bring an end to the shortage in the country and create food security, genetically modified foods have elicited serious outcry on their safety and hence most Kenyans are against their importation, sale and usage in the country. Especially in the wake of lack the relevant information on what pertains to GMO’s.

In Parliament on Thursady, the Minister for East Africa Community Professor Hellen Sambili, on behalf of her counterpart for Agriculture, Dr. Sally Kosgei was the target on the floor of parliament as she was bombarded with questions asking her to justify the importation of the genetically modified maize. 

The MP for Rarieda Mr. Nicholas Gumbo wanted it made clear if Kenya was already importing GMOs and why is it that the maize price won’t come down unless the GMOs are brought in.

“Is it that Kenya is under some contract that it has to import the GMO’s, and does the Biosafety Act guarantee safety of the people, especially on the usage of GMO’s , where in the world has it ever been reported of the successful use of GMOs” asked Mr. Gumbo. 

Prof. Mrs. Sambili assured parliament that she won’t allow Kenya to be used as a guinea pig and therefore the safety of Kenyans was guaranteed, but enumerated several countries that have approved the usage of GMO’s, though not for human consumption. She mentioned Brazil, South Africa, USA and Egypt. 

This did not satisfy the MP for Cherenganyi Mr. Joshua Kitunyi as he raised his fears that GMOs could cause cancer especially prostate cancer. 

Kenya is known to be an agricultural country and if the government is importing GMO’s, how will it sustain this in the long run? Asked  the MP for Sabaot Hon. Eugene Wamalwa. Hon. John Mututho demanded to know if the country is importing  the GMOs, where is the clearing house that ensures they are inspected before distribution and which team is approving the same. 

“At the moment the country has a food crisis and pride won’t ensure the country stays an agricultural nation, so we have to import the maize at moment until the country stabilizes before we can take care of our agriculture sector in a long term strategy. As to the genetically modified maize causing cancer, there have been no reported health issues over the consumption of the product,” Said Prof. Mrs. Sambili

 The MP for Mathira Hon. Ephraim Maina asked whether the GMOs are already in the country as they are the story of the day everywhere while Hon. Wilbur Ochila, the MP for Emuhaya inquired whether  the genetically modified maize has been evaluated by the biosafety department before they are allowed in the country?,” 

Sambili clarified that no GMOS are in the country yet as no one had applied to import them in although failed to justify whether the GMOs have been inspected by the Biosafety department, an issue that raised the heat on the Minister.

The house speaker Mr Kenneth Marende, allowed Sambili more time to explain herself during the next parliament session on Thursday on the issue of the biosafety department and how it plans to handle the importation of the genetically modified maize.