Natembeya: "Globally GMO food is meant to increase animal feeds"

Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya has waded into the ongoing national debate on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Natembeya faulted the Kenya Kwanza Government of rushing to lift a ban on GMOs and allowing the importation of 10 million bags of genetically modified maize into the country.

In his opinion, the President William Ruto led administration should instead focus on ensuring timely empowerment of local farmers especially in supplying of subsidised farm inputs to improve local produces.

"Trans Nzoia County is Kenya's food basket however farmers from the region are not sufficiently catered for, therefore I implore the national government to control market price to curb fluctuation by exorbitant middlemen during bumper harvest," says Natembeya.

The governor does not understand why the country is importing maize, when this is the harvesting period for local farmers.

According to Natembeya, the "exorbitant" middlemen are usually responsible for creating false impression and artificial shortage because they hoard maize bought at very cheap prices from local farmers until when prices are high.

"I call upon Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Hon Mithika Lithuri to move with swift to stop any importation plan of GMO food instead utilise the existing produces.

He adds: "GMO food issue should be discussed exhaustively with relative stakeholders considering pros and cons of the importation to the health of innocent consumers. Globally GMO food is meant to increase animal feeds ,therefore proper policy and guideline should be put in place."