Africa-Press – Kenya. Narok Senator Ledama Olekina now claims someone could be arm-twisting President William Ruto over the importation of GMO maize.
Ledama said were it Ruto’s idea to bring into the country genetically modified maize, his allies wouldn’t be holding press conferences denouncing the move.
“I thought the UDA boss had all his ducks in a row? The headlines? With my friend Samson Cherargei leading a press conference against importation of GMO maize, I am now convinced that even President William Ruto does not want GMO in the country. Is he being forced by someone?” he posed.
His statement came shortly after Cherargei led a contingent of legislators from Rift Valley, Ruto’s backyard, in asking the government to halt importation of duty free GMO maize.
The Nandi senator said the maize will flood the market and lower prices leading to massive losses for maize farmers who are currently harvesting their produce.
“It seems there is a deliberate move to continue killing maize farming in the country as was seen in the previous regime,” Cherargei claimed.
The senator blamed what he termed as cartels for the maize importation, lending credence to Ledama’s claims that someone’s hand other than that of the President is at play.
On Thursday last week, Trade CS Moses Kuria said the government will open a six-month duty free maize importation into the country to avert starvation for Kenyans affected by drought.
He said 10 million bags of GMO and non-GMO maize will be imported into the country by the private sector.
A statement from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) released Monday said some 37 vessels loaded with the maize are expected at the port of Mombasa.
And on Tuesday, the first ship docked at the port carrying 10,000 tonnes of the first batch of the consignment.
Cherargei said cartels have become emboldened so much that they shipped in the maize even before a gazette notice authorising the imports was issued.
“We seek to know reasons as to why ships are already docking in Mombasa port without the laid down legal procedure in place,” Cherargei said.
“We don’t need to rush until policies, rules and regulations to govern the use of GMOs in the country are made clear,” he added.
On October 3, Ruto lifted the decade-long ban on genetically modified crops which was imposed in 2012.
He said this was in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on the review of matters relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety.
But the President has since then steered clear of debate on GMO even as conversation rages online and other media spaces amid public public outcry over the importation of the maize.
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