Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) foods is raging in Kenya after President William Ruto and the lame-duck Cabinet on Monday lifted the ban on the cultivation of GM crops imposed in 2012.
The move has sparked protests and controversies around GM foods. But scientists are saying most of those against the technology are spreading disinformation.
The outgoing Kenyan cabinet, chaired by President Ruto, also authorized the importation of food crops and animal feeds produced through biotechnology innovations.
“The decision by the Cabinet, chaired by President William Ruto at State House today, was made in accordance with the recommendation of the Task Force to Review Matters Relating to Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety,” State House Kenya tweeted Monday.
“The meeting was convened to consider the progress made in the response to the ongoing drought in the country,” it added.
The lifting of the proscription of GMOs now makes Kenya the second country in Africa to allow GMO foods. In 1997 South Africa okayed the planting and importation of biotechnology foods by passing the Genetically Modified Organisms Act.
Kenya has been experiencing severe famine, like the rest of Africa, particularly the Horn of Africa region, thanks to Climate Change occasioned biting drought since 2020.
Last week, Ruto flagged off relief food to 23 counties facing food shortages. Many wild and domestic animals are already succumbing to drought and hunger. The most affected regions are Northern and North Eastern Kenya. Meanwhile, food prices continue to rise, with a kilogram of maize flour now retailing at Sh 100.
Former Health Minister Beth Mugo banned GMO foods in 2012 after a publication by French scientist Eric Seralini asserted that GMO foods were linked to cancer after a mouse fed on it developed a cancerous tumor. The journal was, however, recalled two years later because it was not definite on the matter.
Since lifting the 2012 moratorium on Monday, many Kenyans, including leaders, civil society groups, and politicians, have criticized Ruto’s administration, saying it will open floodgates to cancers and other health complications.
Darlene Kinyanjui said: “We are about to get fuller Cancer wards. Please rethink this decision.”
But according to the Cancer Research organization in the UK, there is no evidence that GM foods cause cancer.
“There’s no evidence that genetically modified (GM) foods cause cancer in humans. And there aren’t any good explanations for how GM foods could cause cancer. In the US, where GM foods are more common, we haven’t seen more cases of cancer linked to their introduction in the 1990s,” Cancer Research UK, said on its website.
The US, a leading nation in GM Food consumption, has strict regulations against GMO products.
According to FDA.gov, The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) ensure that GMOs are safe for human, plant, and animal health. The agencies also monitor the impact on the environment.
“I don’t see any health risks associated with the consumption of GMOs, and lifting GMO restrictions will enhance food security by providing more varieties and much faster,” — Benjamin Waswa, Molecular Biologist.
Responding to the debate on Twitter, Abdrizakh Sheikh supported the ban’s cancellation, citing that South Africa has been using it for a quarter century.
“If we can receive Genetically modified food from donors when there’s a food shortage or drought, I don’t see anything wrong with farming GMO crops. South Africa’s food is entirely dependent on GMOs,” Sheikh said.
South Africa passed the GMO Act in 1997, allowing the propagation of GM products in the country. The law established an 8-member regulatory body known as The Executive Council for Genetically Modified Organisms, tasked with advising the government on every aspect of GMO development, production, and application.
Renowned Kenyan lawyer Donald Kipkorir also criticized the move, saying even the developed nations of the world steer clear of GMO foods.
“France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Netherlands, and Denmark have a total ban on GMO Food and products. The EU doesn’t accept GMO Foods. Which science did we use to unban GMO foods? Surely, our science is centuries behind the EU,” he said on Twitter.
Reuben Kigame, a famous evangelist and presidential aspirant in the last elections, said Kenya should refuse GMOs for the sake of posterity.
“I am happy to shut up and let you guys run your country the way you want, but I have children! Why condemn our beautiful country to GMOs? Food security is not just about quantity but, more importantly, quality. Stop this and let our children thank us later,” Kigame said.
Kigame did not provide a scientific basis for his assertions.
Even Miguna Miguna, an ardent President Ruto supporter, raised his voice against the decision to allow biotechnology foods.
“On the GMO issue, we are saying a firm no,” Miguna tweeted.
Miguna expected to jet into the country on October 20, thanks to the new administration expediting the issuance of his new passport after the previous administration denied him entry into the country for more than did not give a basis for his opposition.
Ten civil groups have also resisted the government’s move to permit GMO importation and usage in Kenya. The groups, including the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya, and the Consumer Grassroots Association, have threatened to take legal action against the government if the ban is not reapplied.
“Why was there a hurry in lifting the ban without the involvement of citizens?” Anne Marina, Kenya National Coordinator, Biodiversity and Biosafety Association (BIBA), asked.
BIBA, however, is not involved in GMO research.
According to its website, BIBA describes itself as “a network of (Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Local Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith-based Organizations (FBOs), and Farmer groups. Our main objective is to ensure the public is aware and alert on issues of concern on environment, agriculture, food safety, health, and biodiversity.”
Eustace Kiarii, CEO of Kenya Organic Agriculture Network, said, “the Cabinet disregarded the fundamental precautionary principle and acted in utter contempt of the interests of farmers, food consumers, and the overall public.”
Molecular Biologist Benjamin Waswa said the administration was on the right track in lifting the ban on GM foods.
“I don’t see any health risks associated with the consumption of GMOs, and lifting GMO restrictions will enhance food security by providing more varieties and much faster,” Waswa said.
Waswa, who is based in the US, said people opposing GMOs had not provided coherent scientific-based reasons for the opposition. He argued that the science behind GM foods is solid and is an advancement to increase the pace of food production and use science to make better seeds that are nutritionally richer and more resistant to diseases and pests.
Waswa explained the GMO process as follows:
The central dogma of molecular biology describes how genetic information is transferred from DNA to a functional protein in eukaryotic cells. Francis Crick first proposed this process in the late 1950s, explaining that the flow of information in a cell includes replication of DNA to transcription RNA to translation of RNA, which results in protein formation.
There are a few exceptions to this process where information does not follow the outlined process. For instance, in the case of reverse transcriptase during the formation of cDNA in viruses where information flows from RNA to DNA.
Nonetheless, there hasn’t been documented evidence of information transfer from protein to DNA, where it would raise concerns. However, if this were to happen, the risk would not be unique to GMOs.
The Kenyan move is drawing some backlash in the East African region.
Tanzania has said it will carefully monitor the food situation in Kenya to ensure that GMO food does not find its way to Tanzania.
“We are not open to such GM technology, and Kenya’s decision has no effect on us,” Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe told the Tanzanian media.
Bashe said GMO trials in the country will only be allowed for academic purposes to help the country and its people to have a broad understanding of genetically modified varieties, “especially the benefits and impact on the environment.”
Tanzania abolished GMO research trials in January 2021 by former Agriculture Minister Adolf Mkenda to conserve the country’s heritable resources and local grain.
While the debate about GMOs rages on, there’s unmistakable evidence that Genetic engineering has helped solve human problems.
A great example is the invention of insulin more than 40 years ago as a treatment for diabetes.