Kalonzo Drags Church Into Verbal Assault On GMOs
Kalonzo said that he was surprised by the church not addressing the matter yet it was once actively against the GMOs.
Marvin Chege 
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused the church of falling silent after the ban on genetically modified foods (GMOs) was lifted by the government on Monday, October 3.
Speaking at the SKM command centre in Karen on Tuesday, October 11, Kalonzo said that he was surprised by the church not addressing the matter yet it was once actively against the GMOs.
He warned that the lifting of the ban would lead to Kenya's genetic generic seed company and small-scale farming risk dying out as a result of unfair competition from subsidized GMOs, adding that the country does not have adequate capacity to test the GMOs.
An image of GMO maize. /FILE
"As crusaders of moral practice, we are also surprised by the silence of religious institutions, and specifically the Church which was once vibrant and vehemently against GMOs.
"Could it be that they have been pacified by this new administration and blinded to the moral and ethical question around GMOs that go against the order of nature?" he posed.
He added that there should have been a nationwide discourse through public engagement, education and participation and that the church and religious institutions need to add their voice to that of civil society in condemning the introduction of GMOs.
Kalonzo feared that due to the patterns, Kenya's food system would be at the mercy of the multinational companies that own GMO technology while the indigenous seeds and unique biodiversity will be facing extinction owing to the poor regulatory framework from GMOs in Kenya.
"Science has shown grey areas as far as the safety of consumption of GMOs is concerned. The dependence of GMOs on toxic herbicides is a threat to human health and the environment," he added.
Kalonzo also exposed President William Ruto as once a man who was against GMOs during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture.
He urged the Head of State to reconsider lifting the ban for the sake of Kenyans.
"The Cargill’s of this world are now in control of our food security in Kenya. We must say a Big NO to GMO otherwise we will end up having newborns with 15 fingers who will develop allegiance and resistant to antibiotics. Toxins in our soil No No No. President William Ruto think again!" Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina said in support of Kalonzo.
In a meeting chaired by President William Ruto in State House Nairobi, the Cabinet resolved to scrap the ban on the cultivation of GMOs based on the technical reports with regard to the adoption of biotechnology.
The Cabinet revealed that the decision was arrived at as part of the medium-term measures to address the current food shortage caused by drought in Kenya.
Minutes after the press briefing, the Atheists In Kenya Society welcomed Ruto's decision to lift the ban on GMOs.
"Biotechnology can help us develop new, more resilient crop varieties that are better able to survive these changing conditions."
"GMOs, combined with improved conventional farming methods and new biological crop protection products will help us meet the food security challenges we are facing," read part of a statement signed by Harrison Mumia, President, Atheists in Kenya Society.
