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{
    "id": 1184270,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1184270/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 305,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kabondo Kasipul, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Eve Obara",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I, too, stand to support the Motion. I have two issues. The first one is the timing and the lightning speed at which these matters were being progressed. In 2012, GMO was banned through a gazette notice. After barely two months of being in office, the new Government has lifted the ban and before we could even blink, a shipload of maize has docked at our Port. There was no public participation on the lifting of the ban, and we did not see any gazette notice on the same. Secondly, as we are all aware, maize farmers in the country, and mainly in the Rift Valley Region, have recorded a bumper harvest. Even farmers within my constituency have recorded a bumper harvest. In Kabondo Kasipul, we have harvested a lot of maize. It is being unfair and insensitive to the interests of our farmers to import maize at a time when they have maize in their stores instead of giving them an opportunity to sell their produce at a fair price. Yes, it could be expensive, but why is it so? It is because of the cost of production. We are all aware that fertilisers were going for over Ksh6,000 per a bag of 50 kilogrammes. We are also aware that the cost of fuel had gone up and, therefore, ploughing our fields was expensive. With all these things combined, I would expect the Government to be sensitive and allow farmers to sell their maize before it could even think of importing. Therefore, I would recommend that the Government returns the imported maize to wherever it came from. Secondly, should the consignment find its way into the Kenyan market, the maize should be clearly labelled “GMO” so that Kenyans can decide whether to buy GMO maize or not. Its products should be segregated on supermarket shelves to enable buyers to know which maize products are GMO and which ones are not so that one can make an informed decision when purchasing maize products. As a country, we should take care of our people. Kenya can feed its people. We do not have to beg for food and bring food that is not fit for human consumption. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}