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{
"id": 1184162,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1184162/?format=api",
"text_counter": 197,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Anthony Oluoch (",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "In 1992, the FDA in the USA put in place a policy that food from GMO plants could meet the same standards and requirements as those of indigenous foods. It was a step-by-step thing in the USA which in itself has very strong consumer protection law that separates and delineates the market. This is GMO, not organic. In the same year, 1992, those standards were allowed. The first GMO food product that was allowed to be consumed was the flavr Savr tomato in 1994. This is barely 28 years ago. So, it is surprising that Bill Gates, the CEO of a multinational company, would come to this country and mislead Kenyans that he has been consuming GMOs for as long as he has been alive. Bill Gates, if I am correct, was born in 1955. The first introduction of GMO tomato was in 1994. Even as we engage Kenyans on the question on whether we can consume GMOs, it is important that the facts are properly put on the table. These are the facts on the risk aspects of GMOs. From the research that I have done, GMOs pose the potential for increased cases of cancer, and cases of infertility. They endanger the environment, and pose danger to human and animal life in the ecosystem thus can drastically reduce or eliminate plant diversity. Once introduced, it is virtually impossible to stop the spread where natural crops are grown and this is due to wind and insects. There has also been the question of what happens when you have a two-acre firm where you want to plant indigenous seeds or hybrid seeds or crossbreeds and you have a neighbour who wants to do GMOs. There is absolutely no scientific means that can prevent the impact of GMOs on indigenous plants and seeds through pollination, insect transfer, wind and other natural ways. Hon. Deputy Speaker, even as we adopt or attempt to adopt GMO, it is important that this House knows that there are countries, especially western countries that have run away from GMO. Germany, Austria, France, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Lithuania, Luxembourg and many others in Europe have rejected GMOs. Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador in America have all rejected the use of GMOs. In Africa, it is Algeria, Madagascar, and many more that are against the use of GMOs. As I conclude, I would like to plead with this House that before we allow anybody or any entity to undermine the authority of this House, we must remember that under Article 95, we represent the people and we solve the problems that affect them. This is one such problem that Kenyans are looking up to this House to solve. I want to recommend that a select committee made up of the committee in charge of agriculture and the committee in charge of health be put in place to sit together with their counterparts in the Senate and undertake thorough public participation. The joint committee should ask experts, stakeholders and the people of Kenya, whether, indeed, they want to resort to GMOs. In the meantime, the lifting of that ban should be ceased and all the instruments, including the report of the taskforce on the 10-year ban should be brought to this House through the Committee on Delegated Legislation. I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
}