Third Way Alliance, party leader, Ekuru Aukot claimed that Kenya risks losing the European market due to its planned importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops from the US.
The 2017 presidential candidate, on Friday, November 18, warned that most European countries which are against GMO foods may boycott trading with Kenya.
“Most of our tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables, and flowers are exported to Europe and not to the US. Many Europe nations have totally banned GMOs.
"There is a real danger that Europe may ban Kenya's farm exports with our planned imports of the American GMO maize,” Aukot claimed in a statement on his social media pages.
He was equally worried about Trade CS Moses Kuria's remarks on GMOs, arguing that the CS spoke in haste. Kuria controversially claimed that GMOs could be one of Kenya's leading causes of death.
Aukot, in response to Kuria stated, “As Chinua Achebe says, 'A toad does not run in broad daylight for no reason at all'
"Bill Gates didn't just come to Kenya to see our flora and fauna!” he cautioned, while seemingly alleging that Gates, a tech mogul, was in the country to promote American GMOs.
His sentiments were echoed by Narok senator, Ledama Ole Kina, who cautioned Kenyans against allowing GMO maize in the country.
"Dear Kenyans do not allow GMO maize into this country! If a CS can say they have deliberately decided to allow GMO into the country to kill people, should we really fall into their trap? This is absolutely ludicrous!" Ledama lamented.
Ole kina urged Ruto to reconsider his decision to lift the ban on GMO food production which he claimed pose various health risks to humans.
Homabay Township MP, Peter Kaluma, equally accused the president of being under pressure from the West to buy into its ideologies.
“President Williams Ruto is under pressure from the West to allow the dumping of GMO products in Kenya! This is a country in Africa sitting along the tropics with arable fertile soil and enough rain to produce adequate natural food! Reject!” Kaluma stated.
Ruto's ally, Samson Cherargei also scolded CS Moses Kuria while opposing the President's GMOs agenda.
"Our Rift Valley farmers are currently harvesting maize. The importation of maize should stop until government has mopped up all this year's crop to avoid lowering prices," the vocal politician urged.
Meanwhile, nineteen out of the 27 member-state countries of the European Union voted to either partially or fully ban Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark, Malta, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia totally banned GMOs.
Spain and Portugal approved the farming of GM0 maize manufactured by an American multinational biotechnology company. In Kenya, Ruto lifted the ban placed on GMOs by the late President Mwai Kibaki.
Despite GMOs facing stiff opposition, some analysts argue that the foods would lead to higher productivity as well as improve the quality of crops.
“I agree that GMO foods can increase crop yields, quality and diversification. However, the health and safety of people remain the number one consideration. The potential human health effects of GMO food should always be assessed before they are grown and marketed,” Lucy Chege- a registered and licensed nutritionist told Kenyans.co.ke on October 4.
