- President William Ruto was the minister for Agriculture when former president Mwai Kibaki banned GMO products in the country
- During the debate at the time, Ruto opposed the importation of GMO maize until the whole country came to an agreement on using the products
- Ruto recently lifted the ban on GMO products as the answer to alleviating Kenyans from the effects of the famine in the country
The country has been engaged in a long-standing debate following the lift of the ban by the government on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
At the centre of the debate has been Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Investment Moses Kuria, who is expected to oversee the importation of GMO maize.
As the debate rages on, a video has since resurfaced on social media of then minister for Agriculture William Ruto expressing his reservations about GMO products.
In the short clip, Ruto reiterated that the country would not import GMO maize until legislation is passed to control its use.
He called for using of Kenyan professionals and experts, adding that Kenyans would not embrace the products until we develop local varieties.
“Until we are agreed as a country that we can have GMOs, we will not have GMOs. Until we develop our own local varieties, using our own local expertise,’ said Ruto.
Gov’t lifts ban on GMO
On Monday, October 3, during a Cabinet meeting chaired by now head of state Ruto, the cabinet allowed the importation and growing of white GMO maize, which the government had been reluctant to approve in November 2012.
“In accordance with the recommendation of the Task Force to Review Matters Relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety, and in fidelity with the guidelines of the National Biosafety Authority on all applicable international treaties including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB).
“Cabinet vacated its earlier decision of 8th November, 2012 prohibiting the open cultivation of genetically modified crops and the importation of food crops and animal feeds produced through biotechnology innovations;
“Effectively lifting the ban on Genetically Modified Crops. By dint of the executive action open cultivation and importation of White (GMO) Maize are now authorized,” the statement said in part.
The delay was occasioned by a debate over the safety of genetically modified crops.
Ruto convened and chaired the cabinet meeting that lifted the ban on the planting and importing of GMO foods.
