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"id": 177255,
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"speaker_name": "Dr. Otichilo",
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"legal_name": "Wilber Ottichilo Khasilwa",
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"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Bill because of several reasons. First, I am a scientist and I know what I am talking about. First, it is important to know why this Bill has been introduced and why it is important for this country. Currently, we have no legal framework on how to deal with GMOs. So, unless we have a legal framework which this Bill is introducing, how shall we deal with GMOs? As my friend, the professor has said, we have a lot of GMOs passing through this country but we have no legal framework on how to track them and regulate them. So, I think I want to appeal to hon. Members of Parliament to know that this Bill is not making GMOs legal in this country. It is introducing a legal framework that will be used to regulate and control any introduction of GMOs. 3762 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES December 2, 2008 Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to let my fellow hon. Members of Parliament know that the issue of breeding has been there as long as man has been around. Farmers have been involved in breeding to come up with better seeds. They have been involved in animal breeding to come up with better animal breeds. So, this is a process that has gone on forever and it is for this reason that man has been able to improve food production. So, as it has been said, GMOs is an advancement of the well known plant breeding and animal breeding. So, it should not be seen as something that is alien and strange. This is a process that is ongoing. Last week, all of us hon. Members, were talking about asking the Minister for Finance to bring in fertilizers and the right seeds for the next planting season. We know very well that farmers in this country are used to hybrid seeds. We have been buying hybrid seeds from the shops and the Kenya Seed Company. So, what is the worry that when you bring in Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) people will lose their traditional seeds? Let us be honest with ourselves. Let us not be driven out of facts. This country is notorious for resisting change, particularly in science and technology. I remember early in the 1970s when the computers were being introduced, the Government took a very strong position against computers. However, technology could not be held by the Government decisions. The computers came! Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, when it comes to Information Communication and Technology (ICT), this country has resisted for a long time. But again, ICT is with us. Now, we are struggling to bring ICT-related Bills in this House when we should have done it many years ago. The GSM technology came in and this country resisted. Countries around us were able to buy mobile telephones but this country resisted. However, again, we have had to bow to pressure and GSM technology is here. It has created more jobs than we thought. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to tell hon. Members of this Parliament that this Bill is good for this country. It is putting the legal framework without which all our fears will be in vain. This is because we would not do anything even if anybody introduces a GM crop in this country without the legal framework. We have no legal basis. Therefore, let us not be carried by emotions. Let us go by reason. We are in the 21st Century where information is the in thing! Therefore, science and technology is what is going to drive us. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, climate change is with us. The traditional crops we are sticking on will not survive in a climatic change we are already experiencing. Therefore, it is important that we embrace science and technology. GMOs are part of science and technology. This Bill is going to guard this country against anybody bringing in GMOs or any other crops that we deem unfit for this country. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to support this Bill very strongly. However, I have a few comments to make so that we can make the Bill stronger and let it fulfil what it is intended for. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the preamble of this Bill is too brief. It is too economical with information. We need the preamble to be amplified so that more information is given and people reading this Bill would know what it is about. I think the objective of the Bill should be well elaborated. The policies that the Government has already enacted like the Biotechnology Policy must be articulated in the preamble. A mention of the relationship of this Bill with the Cartagena Protocol must be covered so that we know we are working under international framework. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the issue of overriding principle of biodiversity regulation needs to be articulated. This is particularly the precautionary approach. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other issue that I want to be amplified is the definition of biosafety. It is key and it should be very clear and be understood by all Kenyans. It needs to be recast so that it reflects the fact that in reality, it is the human safety and biodiversity December 2, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3763 that are at great risk from unsafe transfer, handling and use of GMOs. So, these issues have to be addressed. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to propose that in looking at the definition of biosafety, they should look at the definition given in the Environmental Management and Conservation Act. I think the definition there should be incorporated in this Bill. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a number of proposals, particularly, on Sections 16 and 17. These Sections say that if there is any problem with the GMOs, the individuals involved will not be taken to task neither are the people who have introduced the GMOs or researchers and so on. However, it leaves the burden to the Government or the proposed National Biosafety Authority (NBA). I think this is not the right thing to do. We need to ensure that Kenyans are secure. If somebody introduces GMO in this country and it causes problems, then that person must be held liable and not the proposed NBA. We need to look at that issue to make sure that we do not make the Government more liable rather than those who import the GMO, researchers and those marketing. With those few comments, I wish to support this Bill very strongly."
}