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{
    "id": 1184161,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1184161/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 196,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Anthony Oluoch (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mathare, ODM): Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I thank my colleague with whom we are co-moving this Motion. The Member for Mosop has already set the basis that on Thursday 17th November 2022, the Government issued a directive that in effect will allow the importation of 10 million bags of GMO maize. Against this background, there was a Cabinet directive on the lifting of a 10-year ban on the importation of maize. Whereas my colleague has focused largely on the question of its impact or effects on the farmers in the Rift Valley, I would like to cast this debate in a much larger perspective in three ways. First, I want to underpin the authority of this House. Hon. Deputy Speaker and Members, Article 94(5) is very clear and states that no person has the authority to make any provision that has the force of law other than Parliament. During this debate, we must always remember that we have the Statutory Instruments Act and a committee which we have set in place in the name of the Committee on Delegated Legislation. It is my position that under Article 94(5) and the Statutory Instruments Act, a decision as serious as this one of lifting the ban on GMO ought to have a seal of approval of this House. The second point that I want to underpin this debate on is Article 118 of the Constitution as read together with Article 1. The power that we exercise in this House is an indirect power donated by the people of Kenya under Article 1. Article 1 states that the sovereign power can be exercised directly or indirectly. When exercised indirectly, it could be by way of a referendum, a vote in an election, or being engaged in public participation. The lifting of this ban has been done against the background of a 10-year ban. In addition, the report of a taskforce that was put in place to inquire into the health, safety and other impacts of GMO introduction into this country has never found its way into this House. That report has never been subjected to the committee that oversee delegated legislation and regulations in this House. Thirdly, I also wish to underscore a statement that was made by the Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Investment and Industry. He appeared to be suggesting that we could as well import GMOs because there are a thousand ways in which people can die in this country. So, introducing another form of death appears to him to be something that is so casual. When a Cabinet Secretary in charge of trade makes such a statement, could he as well be saying that it is better to engage in sex without a condom because after all, there are a thousand other ways by which a Kenyan citizen can die? I want to suggest that we donate Hon. Moses Kuria to Koinange Street where we can keep him for a year to have sex for free without using condoms because there are a thousand other ways in which you could die. That is the casual manner in which this matter of GMO has been taken. Now, let me take this House through a little history on GMO and how it evolved. The GMOs began in 1982 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first GMO product that was developed through genetic engineering. This was used as a test to try and develop a DNA bacterium for the treatment of diabetes. In 1986, the FDA again developed a coordinated framework for regulation of biotechnology. This policy described how the United States Federal Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the department of agriculture would regulate GMO. I believe this is a very recent technology even as we look back to where the USA has come with this technology. It started in 1982 when I was in Form One. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for informationpurposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}