NAIROBI: Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto disclosed that Kenya will lift the ban on Genetically Modified (GMO) food in the next two months.
Officially opening the 4th Annual National Biosafety Conference in Nairobi that kicked off on Tuesday, Ruto said Kenya cannot be left behind when the world is embracing biotechnology because of unseen fears and misinformation.
“Scientists and especially those from the National Biosafety Authority should be able to confound skeptics. We should be able to tell the public that anything genetically modified is not harmful. Science and technology is what will take us to the next level,” he said.
He disclosed that various government ministries, departments and agencies concerned with biotechnology have already consulted and agreed on the necessary regulations and safety measures to be adhered to.
“Kenya continues to effectively implement internationally recognized legal and regulatory biosafety framework. The necessary capacity has also been put in place to ensure that appropriate safety measures are taken into account at all stages of biotechnology-related product development, commercialization and trade,” he added.
GMOs have been banned in Kenya since 2012, when a study found that GMO maize caused cancer in rats. The study was later discredited, and pulled from the scientific journal that had published it.
