Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s lawyer, Paul Mwangi, has lodged a petition at the High Court to challenge a cabinet decision to reverse a 10-year ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) crops.
In the suit, he argues that the lifting of the ban removes regulatory barriers that subjected all foods introduced into the market to safety checks and these could expose Kenyans and the environment to a wide range of risks.
Mr. Mwangi says the decision was rushed and could disadvantage small-scale farmers while benefiting multinational seed corporations.
“The hasty removal of all regulatory protocols in the cultivation and trade in genetically modified foods in Kenya is neither rational nor reasonable.
“It goes against the right to food of acceptable quality, consumer rights guaranteed by Article 43, right to fair administrative action in Article 47 and Freedom of conscience, religion thought belief and opinion,” the lawyer stated.
The government has defended the decision saying it is meant to address food insecurity and perennial droughts.
Food scientists say GMO crops are resistant to drought, pests and give higher yields.
In 2019, the Kenya government approved genetically enhanced cotton hybrids which are resistant to the African bollworm pests.
The move was aimed at revamping the production of textiles and apparel which benefits the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
