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"speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Lesan",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I also rise to support this Motion. I wish to say a few things. First, I would not like us to speak as if we are blaming foreigners for introducing this plant. Indeed, we should all take responsibility, both the researchers and the Government of Kenya, which used its wise counsel, at that time, to think that this was the best way to solve a problem. It is on this point that we all need to take responsibility and use this occasion to learn lessons. These are very difficult lessons. We now need to learn the lesson that although the plant actually changed what was arid land to grazing land - right now we want to reclaim grazing land - I assume that because of this plant, there is some grass which has also grown. Therefore, there is some achievement that was gained by the introduction of this plant. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the reason I mention this is that we had a challenge and we had to make very hard decisions at that time. I really want to use this as an occasion to warn this country that we are yet, and indeed, are about to make very hard decisions. Today, the world is preparing to feed itself using modified plants, the GMO plants. The reasons for introducing and using the GMOs are so compelling that we would have no option but to introduce them. We already know that there are problems with this alien or foreign germs introduced by the variation of the genetic composition of plants. We need, as a country, to make a very serious decision because it directly affects the lives of human beings. We know that GMO products that have been introduced to fight hunger will be widely consumed throughout the world. I am sure there will be some medical consequences arising from this as a result of interfering with the natural environment as it is. We need to learn serious lessons emanating from the Mathenge plant, which is affecting livestock only. So far, from the records and the research that we have, it has not affected humans directly. But we need to use this as a very serious lesson. As a country, we must make very serious decisions, whether we should accept to introduce GMOs in this country or not. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the consequences of altering the environment are so unforgiving, irreversible and sometimes they appear like epidemics, which is mass murder of populations. We need to start putting money into research in order to reverse the process. For example, we know that the Mathenge plant is a biological plant and, therefore, we need to start fighting a biological war as well. We need to introduce the germs that will negate the growth of these things. In this case, we are looking at the bacterial and viral organisms and other things that researchers might have to introduce to be able to reverse this plant. This is a monumental exercise that requires technical knowhow and an enormous investment. There is, therefore, very good reason to make The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}