High Court in Nairobi has stopped the Kenyan government from importing duty free Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) maize.
This deals a blow to the government as it clamours to deal with striking hunger crisis.
The temporary injunction was issued by Judge Mugure Thande.
The injunction also includes other GMO products, foods and materials by the state or any person weather directly or indirectly.
The lawsuit was filed by the Kenyan Peasants League -a lobby group representing peasant farmers.
They claim that GMO products pose a health risk to Kenyans, particularly the poor and those with low incomes.
This is among crisis beckoning in President Ruto’s government coming two months after he assumed power as President.
A week a go, Trade, Investments and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said the country would import duty-free GMO maize to deal with hunger crisis.
“In view of the food situation in the country, I shall be signing instruments to allow duty-free imports of GMO and non-GMO Maize for the next six months,” Kuria tweeted.
The decision was arrived at during a cabinet meeting chaired by the President in what he termed as a progressive step towards significantly redefining agriculture in the country by adopting crops that are resistant to pests and disease.
Agriculture is Kenya’s main back born, economically – and the country is experiencing drought crisis last witnessed 40 years ago, with unpredictable rain patterns hurting farming activities.
