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{
    "id": 1200846,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1200846/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Umulkher Harun",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "because it cannot produce enough. The food shortage is largely because we are not producing for subsistence use but for international markets whose economic policy does not favour the producers especially in the Third World countries. Kenya does not need GMOs to tackle food security. What we need are policies and universally available food preservation methods. We lose a lot of food to wastage due to rejection by international exporters. Using the drought as a reason to allow GMOs in Kenya without ensuring all the safeguards are in place is wrong. For example, Kenya has not ratified the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol to Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The protocol provides international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress relating to living modified organisms. The protocol requires that response measures are taken in the event of damages resulting from the living modified organisms or where there is sufficient likelihood that damage will result if timely response measures are not taken. My question then is: How do we open ourselves to this biotechnology without proper protection on measures in the name of food security? Instead, why not build dams and dispatch irrigation technologies to address the food security challenge? We should invest in organic foods instead of going to GMOs. We have plenty of arable land that if irrigated, we can feed ourselves and export food. It is interesting to note that when North Eastern Province counties are short of food, farmers in Molo are feeding fresh produce to their animals due to lack of market. The GMOs will have adverse effect on organic farming. My question is: Has the Government consulted the public? Was there any form of public participation before this decision was made? How can the Government arbitrarily make such decisions while being subservient to foreign interest? The decision has regional implications. For example, Tanzania has already braced itself for the possibility of our GMOs finding their way into the country. This will affect the harmony of freedom between neighbouring states of the East African Community (EAC). Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I look forward to representing the interests of young people in this House. Thank you very much."
}