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Nandi governor asks government to allow farmers grow GMO maize


Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang has asked the national government to allow farmers to grow genetically modified maize instead of importing the product.

Governor Sang said what Kenyan farmers need to be told is how to increase their productivity.

“I call upon the national government to teach our farmers how they can increase their productivity. This can be done if the government allows farmers to grow the GMO maize,” said Sang.

He said further there is no need for the government to support ‘other’ farmers who have grown GMO crops.

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“Our farmers have the capacity and ability to increase their production. If they are given a chance to grow GMO maize, then we will not have the need to import GMO maize. Through this, they will be able to double their productivity and plenty will be found within our borders,” the governor said.

“We call upon the government to consider our farmers and give them a chance,” he added.

Just a few weeks, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria said the country was set to import 10 million bags of duty-free GMO maize to mitigate the effects of hunger.

Mr Kuria also said because there were so many things competing for death, there would be nothing wrong with adding GMOs to that list.

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“That’s why we have deliberately decided to allow GMOs into this country,” he said.

He explained that the decision to allow the importation of duty-free maize was because the country is experiencing a dire food shortage which has exposed more than four million Kenyans to hunger.

However, the High Court temporarily suspended the government’s decision to allow in duty-free genetically modified maize.

Judge Mugure Thande also temporarily barred the importation of GMO products, foods and materials by the government or any person either directly or indirectly.

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