First, let us have sober and candid debate on GMO foods

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• I’m sure it is not the wish of the President to ship in GMO foods which if true, would end up harming the health of Kenyans. Since he took the oath of office, Dr Ruto has been reiterating that his first priority is to protect the lives of Kenyans and their properties. He has been walking the talk.
• I’m not holding brief for him but allow me to explain why I disagree with the sentiments of Raila Odinga that he has become a puppet of Western Countries [read Europe and USA].
• Though it is true president Ruto chaired the cabinet meeting that lifted the ban on GMO foods, his decision to support the importation was based on the findings of researches conducted by the respected and renowned world bodies.

I have been following with keen interest the ongoing debate on Genetically Modified Organisms [GMO foods]. While citing the findings of the new reports released by the global researchers attached to United Nation bodies such as World Health Organization [WHO], Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] and America’s Food and Drug Agency , the government of President William Ruto believe that this food is fit for human consumption.

These reports informed the decision by the cabinet to lift the ban and further enlisted this as a key intervention in the war against food insecurity. At the time, 4.2 million Kenyans were facing starvation due to biting drought that was ravaging the country. The number has since increased to 4.5 million Kenyans.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria took this debate a notch higher a few days ago when stated. The government has now authorized the duty-free importation of 10 million bags of GMO maize over the next 6 months. In the next two days, I will sign the necessary documents for shipment.

It is worth to note the 10-year ban had been imposed by President Mwai Kibaki and attempts by the world multinational companies to have it lifted during the tenure of his successor-President Uhuru Kenyatta-failed to bear the fruits.

Having been at the fore front of opposing the GMOs, the opposition leaders led by Raila Odinga did not take Kuria’s remarks lightly. We have heard him defending GMOs by making highly unpalatable and reckless comments: “Being in this country you a candidate for death. There are so many competing things to kill us, so there is nothing wrong if we add the GMO maize in that list”.

Here, Kuria has gone overboard and many people would ask. Was he under the influence of something? If yes, then it means he had started to defy his boss-president Ruto-very early.

Dr Ruto had, in various occasions, advised members of his cabinet and those serving in other key dockets, who were known to be heavy drinkers, to stop habit. For those who cannot, reduce taking too much alcohol and other stuff and only take after work. Avoid coming to my office when drunk, he further told them.

Well, get me right. I’m not saying that Kuria was drunk because I have no evidence. But it would have better if he was. Reason? The remarks he made did more harm than good to the image of President Ruto.

I’m sure it is not the wish of the President to ship in GMO foods which if true, would end up harming the health of Kenyans. Since he took the oath of office, Dr Ruto has been reiterating that his first priority is to protect the lives of Kenyans and their properties. He has been walking the talk.

I’m not holding brief for him but allow me to explain why I disagree with the sentiments of Raila Odinga that he has become a puppet of Western Countries [read Europe and USA].

Though it is true president Ruto chaired the cabinet meeting that lifted the ban on GMO foods, his decision to support the importation was based on the findings of researches conducted by the respected and renowned world bodies.

Since then, i have never heard the President opposing the calls of involving the public in this debate. He knows that public participation is a constitutional right of every Kenyan.

He also a leader who curves a niche of listening to all sheds of the public opinions. So, may be after perusing the concerns raised by those opposed to GMO foods, it dawned on him that some of them could not be swept under the carpet.

It is worth noting that the GMO seeds were being produced in the laboratories of multinational companies in Europe. When the crops mature, we are made to believe these foods are not eaten by human beings in those countries. The foods are consumed by animals.

We have also heard this story. The GMO foods had been rejected in many African countries including our neighboring countries of Uganda and Tanzania. If this is true, then it means there could be something wrong.

I have no reason to doubt President Ruto’s capability to handle this matter in a professional and scientific manner. His first priority is health and safety of all Kenyans.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political commentator based in Nairobi