Court Approves GMO Consumption in Kenya

Thursday, October 12, 2023 –Government is now free to start introducing genetically Modified Organisms GMOs in the country after winning a court case.

On Thursday October 12, a court sitting in Nairobi observed that the petition which had been field with them lacked substance.

The court argued that the petitioner did not prove that GMO’s could harm human life if used in the country.

The Environment Court cited a lack of evidence showing that using GMOs causes harm to human health as well as life.

GMO debate resurfaced in the country when President William Ruto lifted the ban which had been introduce by his predecessors before.

“All the food we import is GMO, to some percentage. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) requires the percentage to be one. But that leaves us paying 30 to 40 per cent more for our imports,” he said in March 2023,” Ruto said.

He singled out South African and the United States USA as countries leading with 100 percent in GMO consumption.

“South Africa and the USA are 100 per cent GMO. Have you heard of anyone growing horns because of consuming GMO? I am a scientist; I would not endanger the lives of those who elected me.”

Furthermore, while trying to prove wrong the nay Sayers, Dr. Ruto said GMOs can be engineered to be resistant to pests and diseases, hence reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides.

Nonetheless, Civil Society groups who did not agree with him, went to court to file a petition in seeking to reverse Ruto’s orders.

They argued that the government had not provided sufficient evidence to show that the modified crops were safe for consumption.

They would also be supported by the opposition led by Raila Odinga who said, if not stopped, GMO food will have health impact on many Kenyans.