Farmers’ groups oppose Biosafety Bill

Farmers’ groups have faulted the Biosafety Bill 2008, dismissing it as offering little to protect Kenyans from hunger, poverty and health concerns surrounding genetically-modified organisms.

The Kenya Biodiversity Coalition said that in formulating the Bill, the Government listened to multinational corporations instead of ordinary farmers.

To mark World Food Day on Thursday, they had planned a march in support of an alternate Bill, the Biosafety and Biotechnology Bill 2008, but were denied permission by the police.

“We are not going to relent,” said Mr Paul Mutuku, representing Dagoretti Youth Network in the coalition.

“The Government’s Biosafety Bill has not put adequate measures in place to protect Kenyan farmers and consumers.”

The coalition is backing an alternate Bill tabled by Mr Silas Muriuki, the Imenti North MP. They say his Bill will ensure that agriculture is sustainable and food is safe to consumers.

“This process started from the top…there is a hand that is pushing the Biosafety Bill and that hand must be defeated,” said Mr Sidney Quntai, the coalition coordinator.

He criticised the Bill for not curbing the impact of genetically modified food products, which he claimed caused cancer and diabetes.

He said the Government should subsidise farmers and find ways to reduce the price of fertiliser and other inputs.

In Trans Nzoia District, farmers held a similar protest against the planned introduction of genetically modified organisms.

The farmers, who marched on Kitale streets, asked MPs to reject the proposed Biosafety Bill, which they said seeks to commercialise genetic engineering.

Under the auspices of the Kenya Biodiversity Coalition Kitale Chapter, the farmers, led by Kitale chapter coordinator Wafula Waswa and his Butere counterpart, Mrs Isabel Wandati, said the Biosafety Bill would jeopardise livelihoods.

The farmers said seeds of genetically modified crops had brought diverse effects. The farmers claimed that maize seeds known as Pioneer, did not measure up to expectations.

Mr Martin Wasakatu, a farmer from Bungoma claimed he lost more than Sh40,000 after planting a breed of maize said to be genetically engineered.

However, the Pioneer maize seeds are not genetically modified, but are high breed seeds meant specifically for the Kitale region.

Reported by Jami Makan, Sammy Cheboi and George Omonso