Beth Mugo

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 271 to 280 of 977.

• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform the Member that we do not wait until there are scientific reports for something that is not proven. They should prove first that it is safe for us to take action. We are taking precaution. I would like to add that the countries that have already banned GMOs include Austria, France, Greece, Hungary, Germany and Luxemburg. We need to have the capacity to analyze the effects of GMO foods in future. We are not saying that it is completely banned. We are taking precaution until we get expert advice. Some of these ... view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, since I have not studied the documents that have just been tabled, I do not have that answer. I would recommend to the Member that we give all those reports, plus what anyone else has, to the taskforce. The taskforce is view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, as far as the ban is concerned, for the time being we have banned foodstuffs – food that is imported, especially grains, which is a staple food for our people. We consume a lot of maize and rice. Should they be harmful in the long run, we will realize that we made a mistake. We do not want to have something similar to what happened with thalidomide, a drug which was allowed and approved, but the women who took it gave birth to children who had deformities. We do not want to go that route. Allow us ... view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, as far as I know, there was no time that bulks of GMO foods were allowed to be imported unless they went through other ministries. That is as far as I know and it is my Ministry that is supposed to approve all foodstuffs that come into the country together with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). As far as I view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am not getting the question completely. Could he repeat it louder, please? view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, this action of setting up a task force was an emergency – something that was to be done immediately but the Biosafety Act falls under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and the Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology and I have had conversation. Even before banning GMOs, we went through it together and, therefore, I believe that she has taken action to do with the biosafety. My Ministry immediately protected Kenyans and the other formalities can come later and a ban is not a permanent thing. It is just something temporary, while we ... view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Ministry in which the Biosafety Authority falls, the Minister is a Member of the Cabinet and she was present when this issue was discussed and agreed upon unless you are insinuating that the Minister does not represent the Authority. I would believe that the Authority was represented by the Minister and as I said, this is temporary, taking into account the security of Kenyans where food is concerned. As soon as we get the information from the task force, we will lay it on the Table of this House and give it to you, hon. Otichilo. view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the task force has been established. I have asked them how long it will take them to give us a concrete answer and I have given them approximately two months but if they do it earlier, it will be very good and we will lay it on the Table. If they do not manage within two months then they will tell us. view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Yes, I will give a report to this House as to how far it will have gone. view
• 19 Dec 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, let me also join my colleagues in congratulating and thanking His Excellency the President for a job well done. He is leaving Kenya far much better than he found it. view