- The Ministry of Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria is on the spot on his death comments on the importation of GMOs
- Anthony Muheria asked Moses Kuria to apologise to Kenyans for trivialising death and the serious matter of GMO
- Muheria explained that the issue required a multisectoral approach and strategic engagement before it was implemented
The archbishop of the Catholic Church, Diocese of Nyeri Anthony Muheria, has put the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Trade on the spot on his comments on the importation of genetically modified food.
Muheria faulted Moses Kuria for trivialising the matter and seemingly forcing the policies down the throat of Kenyans.
The archbishop pointed out a comment made by Kuria that even if Kenyans refused GMOs because they could kill them, they would still die from other causes.
“The recent statements by the Cabinet minister of Trade are something we would like to discuss. We want to pick a particular exception of how the CS addressed Kenyans in this matter; we feel it is distasteful and disrespectful to Kenyans to joke about life and death.
“Even if it were an issue to be taken as a joke, it would be wrong to make statements that trivialise death, suffering and insecurity,” Muheria explained.
Anthony Muheria: It’s a serious matter
Muheria opined that the GMO issue requires strategic engagement because it is not a solution in any way.
He explained that even though we need momentary relief from drought issues currently mauling the country, we need to interrogate our policies in order to be food secure.
“We understand we may need a momentary relief to go towards embracing the feeding of our people with food that may be, in fact, GMO, but that’s not the solution; we need to address deep-seated issues as a bridge, yes, but as a long-term solution we need to address what is it that ails Kenya and what is it that ails us to make us not food sufficient,” he analysed.
The Bishop said it was important to put Kenyans first in all the matters that directly affected them and their livelihoods.
Anthony Muheria: Moses Kuria must apologise to Kenyans
Speaking at a press briefing, Kuria stated that Kenyans were in constant danger of losing their lives and that GMOs were not an imminent danger.
“We have so many things that can kill us in the country. Being in this country, you are a candidate for death. And because so many things compete for death, there is nothing wrong with adding GMOs to that list. That is why we have deliberately allowed GMO until we are satisfied that we have enough maize, the staple food,” Kuria blurted.
For the above reasons, Muheria said Kenyans deserve an apology for labelling them candidates for death and that GMOs were not so much of harm.
“For this reason, we feel that we would request an apology irrespective of the matter because Kenyans deserve respect and not spite. It is not good to joke about death or gamble with Kenyans’ life as if it were Russian roulette,” he stated.
