Raila accuses Ruto of betrayal in importing GMO maize, wants Kuria to apologise to Kenyans

In a communiqué issued on Sunday, Raila claimed that the decision was made without much deliberations with various parties and public participation.

The opposition leader further accused President Ruto of being a "puppet" working for foreign nations and giving the nod for the importation of GMO-infused foods will have severe implications to the nation's agriculture.

He therefore demanded that President Ruto and the UDA regime should reverse their decision and engage in a robust debate on the matter.

"We consider the decision to lift ban on GMO foods and their importation a betrayal to our country. On this, the Ruto administration is not working for Kenya," Raila said.

"He is being a puppet, working for the foreign nations and their multinationals against our interest as a nation. He is working to promote foreign biotechnology institutions abroad," he added.

Raila further chided Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over his controversial remarks on GMOs leading to death.

Kuria publicly stated that the 10 million duty-free GMO maize he allowed to be imported can be added to the list of causes of death in Kenya since Kenya is a hotbed of death anyway. 

In a rebuttal, Raila demanded that CS Kuria should apologize to Kenyans over his heedless remarks, accusing him of lacking scientific literacy and using power to demean Kenyans.

"As a party, we believe the matter of GMO foods in our country is too serious to be reduced to a cruel and juvenile joke. We call upon Mr. Kuria and the UDA regime to apologize to the Kenyan people," said Raila.

"Officials who lack scientific literacy on such serious matters must never use their office to demean the Kenyan people as though we are a helpless, enslaved lot."

Raila further dared the government to furnish Kenyans with the scientific studies they are relying on to allow the consumption of GMOs, arguing that studies have proven GMOs unfit for consumption.

"There is no scientific study thus far that has unequivocally cleared GMOs as fit for human consumption and the environment. We challenge the government to share with Kenyans the scientific study it is relying on to declare GMO maize as fit for our consumption and our environment," he said.

He also called on Kenyans to reject the introduction of GMOs in the Kenyan market, claiming that the people’s voice must be heard and respected especially on such grave matters. 

"We ask Kenyans to oppose this move and to totally reject any GMO foods should they ever enter the Kenyan market."