Govt compromised to lift ban on GMO COFEK

The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has alleged that the government was compromised to lift the ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

In a statement, the federation said that the announcement made by Deputy President William Ruto revealing plans to lift the ban imposed by former Public Health Minister Beth Mugo in December 2012 as “disturbing and a scandal in the making.”

“We have information that senior Government officers have been compromised, by global pro-GMO’s companies and foundations, to accept the new and unpalatable position,” read the statement in part.

“The ongoing conference by the National Biosafety Annual Conference, according to our sources, has been funded by the same forces.”

COFEK claimed that GMOs have severally been linked to toxicity, sterility and infant mortality pointing at the latest ban by Scotland government as a case in point.

The body called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the alleged under dealings behind the lifting of the ban.

“Surprisingly, the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) wants to approve open field GMO maize plantation by AATF and KALRO. It is totally an unpatriotic and unfortunate.”

“Whatever it will take, we would like to put Mr Ruto on notice: That Kenyans will not accept lifting of the ban without conclusively addressing the issues which necessitated it in the first place.”

Consumer Rights

COFEK stated that according to Article 46 of the Constitution and the Consumer Protection Act, 2012 as the basis of their defense urging President Kenyatta to review his Executive Order No 2 and remove NBA under the Ministry of Education and put it under health docket.

According to Article 46 of the Constitution, consumers have a right (a) to good and services of reasonable quality, (b) to the information necessary for them to gain full benefit from good and services (c) to the protection of their health, safety, and economic interests and (d) to compensation for loss or injury arising from defects in goods and services.

The article, which applies to goods and services offered by puplic entities or private persons,  also states that parliament shall enact legislation to provide for consumer protection and for fair, honest and decent

The federation vowed to write to all Cabinet Secretaries and His Excellency the President to petition them against lifting the ban.

The sentiments came after Deputy President William Ruto announced plans by the government to lift ban on GMOs in order to create an enabling environment for the growth of the biotechnology innovations in Kenya.

In his address at the 4th National Biosafety Conference at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto said that lifting the ban will show the country’s willingness to embrace modern biotechnology and enacting Biosafety Act if 2009.