“I haven’t grown breasts despite taking Genetically Modified food. No woman has grown beards because of consuming GMOs.”
This expression by President William Ruto on the myths and fears of Genetically-Modified Organisms might be as controversial as the issue might be.
The Kenyan Peasants League represented by lawyer Kevin Oriri argues that lifting the ban would gravely affect farmers’ productivity and sustainability, their fundamental human rights and the general public’s right to life.
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BT cotton is currently still going through its trials and is now under cultivation by select farmers around Kenya.
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Last year, on June 15, 2021, Kenya approved GMO cassava that was resistant to Cassava Brown Streak Disease following a comprehensive safety assessment that showed the crop did not pose any risk to human and animal health or to the environment.
The genetically modified cassava crop was developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and was evaluated for a period of five years in field trials conducted in Mtwapa (Kilifi), Kandara (Muranga) and Alupe (Busia).
Oriri says stakes are extremely high since it involves Kenyan’s right to health, life and even the survival of future generations, while on the other hand, multinational food companies have invested heavily in the Kenyan market.
