Members of parliament from maize-growing arrears have threatened to impeach Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over the decision to allow the importation of GMO maize.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the MPs led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei protested maize imports, demanding that the Trade Ministry halt the process immediately.
“We demand for an immediate cessation of importation of 10m bags of maize in the country considering that there is no gazette notice to that effect, we are aware there was no cabinet approval on the importation of duty-free maize in the country,” Cherargei said.
More than 20 MPs claim that maize importation will significantly lower maize prices, dealing a huge blow to maize framers who worked in their farms despite high production costs.
According to Pokot South MP David Pkosing, they will collect signatures from Wednesday seeking to impeach Kuria if he does not change.
“I want to tell Kuria, he will be the first CS to leave the office, he could leave before Christmas if he doesn’t change, I will start collecting signatures from tomorrow, and we will impeach him, he is not above the law,” he said.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa warned Kuria to temper his words and consider the plight of Kenyans even as he pushes for maize imports, particularly GMO maize.
“Kuria is not Gatundu South MP anymore, he is a CS, he should stop giving reckless statements, those statements can only come from someone coming from a bar, not a CS, and we are saying no to GMO, and no to maize importation, we have enough maize in Kenya,” Barasa said.
On Monday, Kuria stated that a legal notice for millers to import genetically modified maize was due this week.
However, before the State granted legal permission for maize importation, the ship docked at Mombasa Port.
Kenya will receive several tonnes of maize on Tuesday, just days after the government said it would open a window for duty-free GMO maize to enter the country.
According to a statement issued by the Kenya Ports Authority on Monday, 37 vessels are expected to dock in Mombasa.
The Africa Merlin Ship, number four on the list, is said to have arrived on Monday with bulk maize and empty bags.
Opposition leaders immediately attacked the government, claiming that the move exposed schemes to defraud Kenyans.
