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"id": 243136,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Kaindi",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Agriculture",
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"legal_name": "Peter Kyalo Kaindi",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to respond to this Motion. I want to thank the hon. Members who have eloquently, articulately and scientifically addressed the concerns in this particular Motion. They have looked at the major issues, because the question of food security is pertinent to us. I want to start by saying that we cannot do away with genetic engineering. It is something we have to be contented with, because it is the latest technology. Probably, the Mover's fears arise from the products. Genetic engineering is a process. The product is genetically modified food. But I want to say that we, as a Government, have put sufficient measures to address the concerns that the Mover of the Motion has raised. It is true that there are concerns from various quarters that genetically modified products may have toxicity or allergenicity. However, I want to assure this House that even when cases of genetically modified products are reported, they are subjected to rigorous testing and research. We have the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) which deals with those products. We subject them under a lot of scrutiny because they are likely to affect the lives of the people of Kenya. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we, as a country, also subscribe to international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). These are organizations where we have signed conventions and treaties. They have developed codes and sufficient mechanisms to ensure that safety measures are properly put in place when we are dealing with genetically modified products. It is true today that genetically modified products have not been commercialised in this country. We, as a Government, through the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), are still undertaking a lot of trials. But as hon. Members have said, we need to have a legislation. I want to assure this House that through the relevant organizations within the Government, we have been able to develop a draft Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy which is awaiting debate in this House. What we need is to have sufficient guidelines, statutes and regulations to ensure that those safety concerns are taken on board. I also want to assure the Mover of the Motion and the House that genetic engineering has potential benefits as most hon. Members have alluded to, not just in the side of crops, but also in the side of animals. The KARI, in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), has undertaken a lot of research on how to overcome the East Coast Fever. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the area of heart water, which is a disease that affects both cattle, sheep and goats, without genetic engineering, we will not be able to overcome the challenge in that respect. The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) has also done a lot of scientific research in this area at Muguga Research Station. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the third disease is called anaplasmosis, which affects sheep. KARI has undertaken a lot of research through the National Agricultural and Livestock Development so that we can get the proper diagnosis in order to deal with the disease. This can only be achieved through genetic engineering. Diseases like Rinderpest had become prevalent and dominant. It was not possible to deal with the disease. But through genetic engineering, the 2010 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 12, 2006 potential for benefits on how to overcome some of these diseases has proved to be quite encouraging. KARI has also done a lot of research regarding Rift Valley fever, and foot and mouth diseases which are quite lethal. These are many of the potential areas where genetic engineering is proving to be quite effective. Therefore, it is not sufficient for us to bring all the fears into this House and say: \"Let us deal with only one aspect of the entire spectrum of biotechnology and genetic engineering\". Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we will bring the Bill to the House for debate soon, I urge the House to pass it. We want to assure hon. Members that it is up to the House Business Committee to fast track the coming of that Bill. As a Ministry, we have already finalized that Bill. But arising from the hon. Members' concerns, the Ministry needs to organize a workshop so that all the areas and issues which are arising can be discussed so that when the Bill comes to the Floor, sufficient thoughts and effort would have been put in the Bill. This will ensure that we benefit from the latest technology as a country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not want to say much. I just want to agree with the hon. Members that we need to amend this Motion. I tried to appeal to the hon. Member to amend the Motion in order to allow the Government to fast track the bringing of the Bio-Safety Bill to the House, but he was adamant. That is also his right to bring the Bill. With those few remarks, I want to join the rest of the hon. Members in opposing this Motion. Thank you."
}