In a meeting with stakeholders on November 17, 2022, Moses Kuria, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, provided shocking justifications for his decision to permit the importation of genetically modified (GMO) maize into Kenya.
He said that since there was no food security in the nation, the government would permit the duty-free importation of up to 10 million bags of GMO maize over the course of the following six months, until it was determined that Kenya had enough corn to feed its citizens.
“Being in this country, you are a candidate for death, and because there are so many things competing for death, there is nothing wrong with adding GMOs to that list. That is why we have deliberately decided to allow GMOs into this country. And the second thing is until we are satisfied that we have enough maize in this country – our staple food.”
He continued: “Tomorrow, I’ll be signing a Gazette Notice to allow for the importation of up to 10 million bags of maize, duty-free for the next six months until we achieve food security because that is our cardinal responsibility as Government. I know this may offend some people, both from the GMO and from importation, but I will do this, and we’ll do this as Government even if we will lose some votes here and there, but at least we will see the kingdom of heaven,” Moses Kuria told a laughing audience.
