Blow To Ruto As Court Stops Importation Of GMOs
The order was issued on Monday, November 28 pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by the Kenyan Peasants League.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto's administration has been hit by a High Court order stopping the importation and distribution of Genetically modified crops (GMOs).
The order was issued on Monday, November 28 pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by the Kenyan Peasants League.
The petitioners had opposed the importation, cultivation and consumption of GMO crops and food arguing that they posed a deadly health hazard to Kenyans, particularly the poor and those of low income.
"That pending the hearing and determination of this Application, this Honourable Court be pleased to issue an injunctive and/or conservatory Order prohibiting the Respondents herein either by themselves, their agents or through such other person acting under their instructions from gazetting or acting upon the contents of Despatch from the Cabinet authored by the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, dated 03 October 2022 (“Cabinet’s Despatch on GMO”), regarding the lifting of the ban on the genetically modified organisms (GMO crops) or gazetting other directive or decision similar to the said decision dated 03 October 2022," read court orders seen by Viral Tea in part by Lady Justice Thande.
"That pending the hearing and determination of this Application, this Honourable Court be pleased to issue an injunctive and/or conservatory Order prohibiting the Respondents herein either by themselves, their agents or through such other person acting under their instructions from allowing/permitting the importation of the GMO crops and food into the Country."
The government was also barred from issuing any gazette notice related to the lifting of the ban on GMOs until the application is determined.
It comes after Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria drew sharp criticism over his remarks on GMOs and a revelation by the CS that Cabinet had deliberately made a decision to allow imports.
"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 stated on Thursday, November 17.
Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga led Kenyans in reprimanding CS Kuria's comments on Sunday, November 20, urging him to apologise to the people of Kenya.
"We note with alarm the callousness with which the UDA regime in the person of CS Moses Kuria announced the pending importation of GMO maize. With utter contempt for the Kenyan people, Kuria publicly said that since there are a thousand ways for Kenyans to die, the safety of GMO foods should not worry us because we are dying anyway.
"As a party, we believe the matter of GMO foods in our country is too serious to be reduced to a cruel and juvenile joke. We call upon Mr Kuria and the UDA regime to apologize to the Kenyan people. Officials who lack scientific literacy on such serious matters must never use their office to demean the Kenyan people as though we are a helpless, enslaved lot," Odinga fired.
