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{
    "id": 243160,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/243160/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 244,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. The future of this country is at crossroads and my aim of coming up with this Motion was not to challenge scientific research. Mine was to urge our local scientists to refrain from being used as the experimental gadgets on Third World country human beings when it comes to the needy effects. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have 12 reasons to reject GM foods, and I would like it to go on record and especially in this Ninth Parliament. I know there have been a number of contributions on this issue from hon. Members, but the reasoning was not based on food production, but on what \"if\". However, I want to put down on record 12 reasons why GM foods should be banned. These reasons include:- (i) GM crops contaminate non-GM crops because they do not co-exist. 2016 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 12, 2006 (ii) GM crops will foster dependence on corporate seed suppliers and because GM seeds cannot regenerate, this will force a farmer to depend on that company. I will elaborate this later. (iii) GM crops will usher in terminators and straighter technologies. I will also elaborate on this later. (iv) GM crops will increase the use of chemicals in our soil. That underlines the environmental threats. (v) GM crops are patent. (vi) GM crops favour industrial agricultural experiments. (vii) GM crops threaten organic and sustainable farming in the country. They affect sustainable agriculture for small-scale farming. (viii) The bio-safety systems required are unrealistic for African countries. (ix) GM crops will not reduce hunger in Africa. (x) GM crops will not resolve problems of pests. (xii) GM crops will encourage the arbitrary destruction of bio-diversity. (xii) GM crops are a threat to human health. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion caught several hon. Members unawares, but some hon. Members were aware of this issue because, recently, Mr. Ndolo presented in this House an expired GM product, which was still on the shelf of a shop. When we talk of GMs and their by-effects, I would like to point out to this House that 10 years ago, researchers who were dealing with environmental degradation introduced a crop which was meant to control desertification right from Turkana to Baringo districts. The Prosopis Juliflora tree which was a fodder crop turned poisonous ten years down the line. Scientists are now denying having introduced this species of tree, saying that it was going to be beneficial to Kenya. Two days ago, the beneficiaries, who are farmers, came to file a case in court, with an exhibit of a goat which had consumed this crop. That goat had no teeth and it also had deformed hooves. This was a technology which was introduced by our scientists. If a goat with a deformity caused by genetically modified food is consumed by a human being, he or she will be affected in a way. How can we fan fire which is detrimental to our lives? This is a living example as to why we need a policy in the Government to ensure the safety of our food. Kenya is one of the countries that have ratified food safety protocols in the world. I have a document which proves that Kenya is one of the countries that have undertaken to ensure safety of food supplied from all over the world. I am concerned about the side effects of genetically modified maize and other cereals that we produce in the Rift Valley. Most contributors to this Motion are consumers and not producers of food. They do have investments in food production in this country, and that is why they are opposing this Motion. With those few remarks, I beg to move."
}