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"id": 177306,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/177306/?format=api",
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"speaker_name": "Mrs. Ongoro",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development",
"speaker": {
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"legal_name": "Elizabeth Ongoro Masha",
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"content": " Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Bill. However, I am of the opinion that the benefits of this Bill, and its possible negative effects, should be debated thoroughly, so that this House can arrive at an informed decision. It should be clear why we should adopt this Bill and implement its proposals. It is also important to note that GMO agricultural materials form only a small component of biotechnology. When we talk of GMOs, we do not talk about the entire package of biotechnology, but only a small component of biotechnology. I have examined the Bill. I have examined the Bill and listened to the debate here and elsewhere. I have also critically looked at research findings on case studies and I have come to the informed conclusion that the benefits of implementing this technology far outweigh the perceived negative effects. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, one of the benefits, which has been mentioned here, is that through this technology, we are going to have an effective tool for increased agricultural production. Kenya, being a largely agricultural economy, this is going to be really beneficial. Secondly, GMOs are going to help us deal with pests and diseases that affect our staple crops such as maize, cassavas and sweet potatoes. We will also be able to come up with more nutritional varieties. If we can do that, it means that we are going to handle yet another problem of malnutrition, especially in children. That will help us solve a health problem. When we will have crop varieties that are resistant to diseases and suitable to almost every weather condition and soil varieties, we will turn this country into an agricultural nation. This is because much of our land mass could be described as Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL). Right now, we are not doing anything meaningful. For example, 47 per cent of this country is lying idle. If we come up with crop varieties that can be planted anywhere because they can resist any harsh weather condition, then we will turn the ASAL areas into big agricultural regions. That will, indeed, be beneficial to us. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is apparent, from what has been said here, that if we really implement this technology in the right way, we are going to deal conclusively with the issue of food security. We will be able to create jobs and by extension absorb most of our youth. We are also going to experience economic growth. If we consider this against the two pertinent issues--- Of course, with every technology, there are always a few negative effects. Just in the same way you take drugs, it does not mean that every drug that you take is totally beneficial to our bodies. We take drugs because when we are sick, we weigh the benefits against the negative effects. If the benefits outweigh the negative effects, you will definitely take the drugs. I would like to draw your attention to the few negative effects that we need to pay critical attention to even as we implement this very wonderful and beneficial technology. One of the negative effects is the potential and possibility of seed control by multi-national companies. We do not want to plant one tree and uproot another. We want to deal with this thing so that we do not become enslaved or colonised by another foreign institution or country by way of being totally dependent on seeds that cannot be produced locally. We need to look at that vis-a-vis what is now being referred to scientifically as the \"traitor/terminator technology\" so that we do not become dependent on others. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we also need to consider the fact that GMO crops have the potential to terminate growth of other crops in the neighbouring farms. This potential 3772 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES December 2, 2008 should be addressed by scientists who will be included in the Authority that is yet to be formed. This is because it will imply that we are forcing those who have not yet agreed to adopt this technology to do so. When you plant a GM crop in one farm, it has the capacity and potential to terminate growth of crops in the neighbouring farms. Even as we accept the development of GMOs, we need to be very clear on the cost implications. We should consider that old woman in the village who has been totally relying on the traditional ways of preserving her seeds and replanting. What measures are we putting in place for the transitional period as we implement this? How are we going to cushion this poor woman so that she does not starve as we introduce this new technology? We also have to know that the GMOs and, especially, LMOs, once introduced into an ecosystem cannot be removed. Once we decide, as a country, that we are going the way of implementing this technology, we must be fully prepared to cushion ourselves. Even when we realise that the LMOs are harmful to the environment and other living organisms, we cannot remove them from our ecosystem. I believe that if these measures are put in place and, especially if we include a clause that will compel the Authority to look at the Cartagena Protocol, which actually forms the basis of this Bill, we will have a cushioning effect so that we do not become victims of what I have mentioned. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, before we formally implement this, could we relook at the clauses contained in the Bill that have to do with research and risk management of GMOs? Could we also relook at what we call \"safer transfer, handling and use of GMOs\"? We know that we are going to deal with a population that is largely illiterate from the rural areas. Could we also be very clear on the establishment of the Biosafety Authority, especially on the qualifications of the appointees to that Authority? It has been mentioned but when I look at the Bill, I do not get the impression that it is really specific on the qualifications of those who are going to be included in this Authority. This is because we want specialists and people who are thoroughly informed about this technology and know what exactly they are dealing with. They are really going to be the platform of implementation. They are going to carry this nation to the level of food safety that we are advocating for. If we look at this Bill critically, I am still of the opinion that the advantages of implementing this relatively new technology far outweigh any perceived negative effects. I believe that I am speaking for Kenyans and specifically the people of Kasarani Constituency and for Nairobians. Of late, you have seen what has been happening. When people are hungry, everything else becomes irrelevant. So, we cannot start to look at perceived negative effects when our people are dying of hunger. What Kenyans need, even at this very critical moment, is to be able to feed themselves. We need to feed the nation. If we are not able to feed Kenyans, as leaders and legislators, we will lose the moral authority to sit in this House and call ourselves leaders. I beseech every hon. Member of Parliament to truly support this Bill and the implementation that will follow. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}