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{
    "id": 13605,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/13605/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 31,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kamama",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 165,
        "legal_name": "Asman Abongutum Kamama",
        "slug": "asman-kamama"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) It is true that the Government has a strategy and a plan to conduct civic education to inform the public on the effects of consuming Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in this country. The plan is referred to as National Biotechnology Awareness Strategy (Bio-Aware-Kenya). The objective of Bio-Aware - Kenya is to provide an all inclusive mechanism for awareness creation and raise the level of understanding and appreciation of biotechnology in the country. To this effect, a five year implementation plan for the national biotechnology strategy has been developed. The plan seeks to address public concerns on the consumption of GMOs and make them to understand that there is nothing wrong with GMOs as long as they are developed properly, and in credible facilities. If GMOs are well regulated, have passed the risks and safety assessments and are approved by the relevant competent authorities, then they are safe for consumption. (b) It is true that there is inadequate information and that is why the Government has come up with the above explained plan to address those issues. As part of the implementation of the plan, the Government has come up with the following programmes to educate members of the public on the issue of GMOs. 1. Exhibitions at the national ASK shows 2. Media briefs and press releases in relation to GMOs 3. Several workshops have been organized by the Ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders to inform the public on the issue of GMOs. One of them was the stakeholders’ workshop on biotechnology and issues-labeling that was held in KARI in the month of August. We also had a medical practitioner’s biotechnology workshop that was held in Nakuru in October this year. We also have an international biotechnology conference on GMOs and food security which is to be organized jointly by the National Bio-safety Authority and the National Council for Science and Technology in the month of December. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am not aware that Government agencies are distributing GMO seeds. The Government agencies that distribute seeds in this country are KARI, Kenya Seed Company and the Ministry of Agriculture."
}