How Lifting of GMO Ban Has Stirred Controversy
By Charles Ogallo.
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmain.com
Farmers in Kenya will this year begin cultivating genetically modified GM crops
after the government lifted a 10-year ban on the crops and imports.
President
Ruto’s administration reversed the ban in October last year in its bid to promote
food security, in the face of ravaging drought in parts of the country.
However, the decision is facing resistance following claims regarding safety.
Varied claims linked to lobby groups, and a section of politicians, have been in circulation in the media. Discussions on social spaces and some radio stations at the coast on the
subject, have remained controversial.
Janet Kilalo, a Presenter with Malindi based Lulu FM admitted that posts with
unverified information, such as one that showed how two children fed on GM
crops were suffering obesity were widely shared.
“We almost got sucked in the controversy but applying verification tools enabled
us sieve fact from fiction. We sought clarity from experts and other relevant
sources familiar with these crops” says Janet.
Baraka FM’s George Otieno, the News Editor and Presenter confirmed the rise of
claims surrounding GM crops and the public debate that seemed to have been
informed by circulation of unverified information on social media platforms.
‘The reports on GM crops contain all manner of information, some weresensational and may have been interesting to air, however our editorial team has
the ability to verify and debunk disinformation” Otieno said.
The Kenya Correspondent Association-KCA is carrying out a campaign that seeks
to empower journalists to strengthen their capacity to combat disinformation.
KCA Chairman William Janak says several Journalists have been able to empower themselves
through training and have acquired verification skills to ensure dissemination of credible news.
‘A number of our partners such as Deutsch Welle Akademie have sponsored
these training programs that are enabling journalists combat disinformation and
sensitize the public on the dangers of fake news, Janak said.
He spoke at one of the series of such training held in Mombasa last year. KCA has held these trainings
across several counties.
Andrew Limo, a communication specialist, said any controversies surrounding GM
crops can be addressed by an informed media that is keen on publishing verified
information on the subject.
“Media should be in the frontline in creating awareness and apply verification
tools available to debunk and stop the spread of any mis/disinformation,” said
Limo. ‘Various verification tools are easily available, let’s make use of them”, he
advised the Coast Journalists attending the training sessions.
A recent survey by Route to Food Initiative on the level of awareness about GM
crops show that only 49 percent of Kenyans know what the crops are, an
indication that most Kenyans are not aware of GM crops.
Kenya banned GMOs in 2012 based on a report published in a European Journal
linking GMOs to cancer.
Richard Oduor, a Professor of Biotechnology at Kenyatta University says there is
no science-based evidence linking biotech to cancer. In an interview with the BBC
last November, Oduor said Kenyans have been consuming genetically modified
insulin which has had no adverse effects.
Several government agencies including National Biodiversity Authority -NBA and
Kenya Bureau of Standards KEBS among others are preparing for the
implementation of GM crops following the lifting of the ban.
NBA data shows Kenyan scientists have successfully developed GMO food and
plants varieties and assure Kenyans of their safety.
The National Coordinator from Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya
(BIBAK) Anne Maina is optimistic the regulator will enforce safety standards to
guarantee the safety and health of Kenyans.
She asked the media to work closely with the biosafety regulator and other
partners in the food sector in a sensitization campaign that will empower
consumers with the right information on GMOs.
