Why Europe Could Cut Ties With Ruto- Aukot

Third Way Alliance, party leader, Ekuru Aukot claimed that President William Ruto's warming up to the United States (US) may cost him trade ties with Europe over the planned importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) crops from the Americans.

In a statement on Friday, November 18, Aukot expressed fear that many European nations could stop accepting Kenya's exports as they are against GMO foods, noting further that they account for most of the country's crop exports.

“Most of our tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables, and flowers are exported to Europe and not to the US.  Many Europe nations have totally banned GMOs.

Thirdway Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot. /PEOPLE DAILY

"There is a real danger that Europe may ban Kenya's farm exports with our planned imports of the American GMO maize,” he stated.

On Trade CS Moses Kuria's comments on GMOs, Aukot believed that the CS spoke too quickly after Kuria claimed that GMOs could be one of the top killers among human beings in Kenya

“As Chinua Achebe says, 'A toad does not run in broad daylight for no reason at all'," he added, further attaching a video of Kuria making the comments during the 10th annual Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) conference at Strathmore University on Thursday, November 17.

On the visit of American billionaire Bill Gates to Kenya, Aukot termed it a coincidence and a troubling one given that the courtesy call to State House was followed by a swift decision for Kenya to import GMO maize.

"The recent visit by Bill Gates to State house followed by a rapid decision to import GMO maize to Kenya is troubling, especially as the maize from Kitale has not been exhausted or indeed the maize from Tanzania. Gates is a product of the American Industrial Chemical Military complex that controls big businesses globally.

"By imposing GMO foods/seeds in Kenya the risk of cross-pollination with other plants and crops is very high," he said, adding that the Microsoft co-founder was not just in the country for sightseeing.

Echoing his sentiments was Narok senator, Ledama Ole Kina, who urged Kenyans to bar GMO maize from being imported to the country.

"Dear Kenyans do not allow GMO maize into this country! If a CS can say they have deliberately decided to allow GMOs into the country to kill people, should we really fall into their trap? This is absolutely ludicrous!" Ledama lamented. 

Ruto's ally, Samson Cherargei, also hit out at Moses Kuria and was opposed to the importation of the maize.

CS Moses Kuria is at his usual element but our Rift Valley farmers are currently harvesting maize, the importation of maize should stop until the government has mopped up all this year's crop and avoided lowering prices that don't match the inputs incurred by maize farmers!" he tweeted.

Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, expressed a lack of surprise at CS Kuria's remarks, referring to his past record of uttering reckless remarks.

He attached a Citizen TV interview he featured in whereby he warned President Ruto that some of the Cabinet Secretaries he appointed into his Kenya Kwanza government may embarrass him.

If you are shocked by anything Moses Kuria says or does, you are the problem. Kula tu GMO ukufe. pic.twitter.com/LRPvE08aDa — Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) November 18, 2022