In a recent ruling, the Kenyan High Court dismissed a case challenging the importation of genetically modified foods, reinforcing a previous decision allowing the entry of GMOs into the country.
The Law Society of Kenya, the nation’s leading bar association, had contested the safety of genetically modified food for human consumption, asserting that lifting the ban on its importation was unconstitutional. However, High Court Justice Oscar Angote ruled that the petitioners failed to provide evidence demonstrating that GMOs pose harm to human beings.
Kenya’s government had lifted the ban on genetically modified foods last October due to escalating food insecurity and the challenges faced by farmers in producing sufficient food for the population. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are produced using scientific methods such as recombinant DNA technology, involving the manipulation and isolation of DNA segments of interest. Despite concerns, Angote emphasized the need for the public to trust the institutions responsible for ensuring the quality of food.
However, skepticism remains among some Kenyan stakeholders. Cidy Otieno, the national coordinator of Kenya Peasants League, raised doubts about the country’s regulatory bodies. He pointed out a previous incident involving a product called Aromat, imported from South Africa, which contained GMOs despite Kenya’s regulations against them. Otieno highlighted the weak regulatory framework in Kenya, indicating potential risks associated with GMOs.
Agriculture constitutes one-third of Kenya’s gross domestic product, and farming lobby groups have expressed concerns about the impact of GMOs on the country’s agriculture sector. They fear that sophisticated technology used by U.S. farmers, coupled with government financial support, could negatively affect Kenya’s agriculture industry.
Additionally, Kenya’s acceptance of GMO products has raised concerns among neighboring countries, including Tanzania and Uganda, where GMOs are not allowed. Tanzania has stated its vigilance against importing genetically modified foods, raising the possibility of trade barriers within the East African region. Nason’go Muliro, a Kenyan international relations and diplomacy lecturer, emphasized the potential friction in trade relations, specifically mentioning standardization issues between countries, leading to possible trade disruptions.
Furthermore, the planting of GMO seeds could result in legal disputes among farmers in Kenya and its neighboring countries. The risk of cross-pollination between GMO and non-GMO crops raises concerns about potential penalties faced by farmers due to unintended genetic contamination.
The Kenya Peasants League has challenged the lifting of GMO bans and their cultivation in the country, with the case set to be determined later this year.
*Photo by Mark Stebnicki: [Link](https://www.pexels.com/photo/pile-of-assorted-varieties-of-vegetables-2255935/)*
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