The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture John Mututho told the House that at least 280 tonnes of genetically modified maize was imported into Kenya in 2009 disguised as normal maize August 3, 2011. FILE
By JOHN NGIRACHU jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, August 3 2011 at 17:54
Posted Wednesday, August 3 2011 at 17:54
At least 280 tonnes of genetically modified maize was imported into Kenya in 2009 disguised as normal maize, Parliament heard Wednesday.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga admitted the maize was brought before the government had developed regulations on the import of GMO food and before the regulatory authority had been established.
The Biosafety Act was signed into law in February 2009.
The allegations were made by Naivasha MP John Mututho, who also claimed that there are currently three trucks in transit from Mombasa loaded with the maize. He said the trucks were destined for Isiolo.
The Naivasha MP also tabled a list of GMO maize varieties that he said had been found to have harmful side effects after testing with mice in Vienna.
Mr Mututho alleged that it would take at least 18-21 years to start feeling the effects of consuming the maize.
He said a report by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (Kephis) released in May had shown that “a huge consignment of maize had tested positive for GMO".
Speaker Kenneth Marende asked the PM to undertake to ensure that the vehicles are checked to verify the contents.
But Mr Odinga asserted that since the Cabinet decided recently to allow the import of GMO maize under strict conditions, there had been no import of the GMO maize.
“He has talked about lorries on the road. I can’t inspect lorries on the road. I can’t inspect lorries right now. Perhaps he should have given us the shipping documents. He is just talking about maize and he is not telling about its origin,” he added.
The PM said that while several millers have made inquiries from the National Biosafety Authority on the procedure for the importation of GMO maize, none has applied to import.
He said this is because the necessary Biosafety Regulations outlining the procedure for importation of GMO foods are with the Government Printer awaiting publication.
Only millers are allowed to import GMO maize, and that should be ground into flour, not sold as kernels, and the flour should be clearly marked once it is put up for sale.
Mr Odinga’s scrutiny of the documents tabled by the Naivasha MP revealed that the imports had been made in 2009 disguised as non-GMO and had been stopped by Kephis.
Mr Odinga had also tabled the World Health Organisation’s clearance of GMO products and invited the Naivasha MP “to listen to authorities other than his own".
“Let’s not be too conservative. All these alarming statements are meant to create fear and despondency among the public,” said Mr Odinga.
He said the Cabinet had decided to allow the import of GMO maize based on the scarcity of non-GMO maize in the international market at the time and the desperation brought about by the drought.
Kenya can only get non-GMO maize from Zambia and Malawi as South Africa largely produces GMO while Tanzania has banned exports of maize to safeguard against famine.
Kandara MP asked him why the government appeared reluctant to buy food locally given that farmers in Central and parts of Rift Valley province are harvesting from their farms.
Mr Odinga said the government had not ignored the farmers in the Central and Rift regions but had also moved due to the depletion of the Strategic Grain Reserve to two million bags.
He said the Cabinet had decided that money should be made available to the National Cereals Produce Board to buy maize locally and fill government stocks.
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