Biotech Updates

MPs Promise Action towards Lifting Ban on GM Foods in Kenya

October 29, 2014

Nine Kenyan members of Parliament promised to take specific measures towards lifting the ban on importation of genetically modified (GM) foods that was instituted in November 2012. The MPs visited the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project's confined field trials site at KALRO Kiboko on October 9, 2014. They were briefed on ongoing efforts to develop water efficient maize with insect resistance trait.

The legislators expressed their satisfaction with the experts' work towards food security. "We know that GM foods are safe for human consumption. Credible institutions have conducted trials on this and they have assured us of the safety," said Hon. Fred Outa. The MPs regretted that the technology is already available, yet people could not benefit from it as a result of the ban. "We are in the process of constituting a Parliamentary Select Committee, to independently gather information on GM food safety, and ultimately advise the House and the Cabinet to lift the ban" said Hon. Wilbur Otichilo. He lauded the scientists for having done their work in ensuring that the country has the technology and that it was now for the parliamentarians to work around the politics hindering the commercialization of the biotech crops for the benefit of poor farmers.

The tour had been organized to create awareness on biotechnology among key parliamentarians from parliamentary committees on agriculture, education, environment and labor. The tour provided them with information on the research process of the WEMA drought tolerant maize varieties developed in Kenya. The tour was organized by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), and the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB-Kenya).

Hon. John Serut said that a lot more effort was required to sensitize especially the public about GM food safety. "Our people (electorates) have a lot of stigma on this technology, which needs to be removed by public education on GM foods," he said.


(From left to right) Hon. Wilbur Otichilo, Hon. Cecilia Ng'etich, Hon. Florence Mutua and, Hon. John Serut during the field visit in Kiboko

For more information on the tour, contact mkarembu@isaaa.org.