Led by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, Kenyan lawmakers want Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria impeached for allowing the importation of GMO maize into the country.
MPs from Maize growing areas have begun the process of collecting signatures to initiate the removal of Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria for allowing the importation of the stable.
The threat to impeach Kuria comes from MPs from Maize growing areas after last week’s notice that he will be issuing a gazette to allow the importation of duty-free maize.
Kenya will import 10 million bags of GMO maize in an effort to protect farmers’ incomes which will set the stage for further inflation rallies.
Kuria announced that the government will allow the importation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) maize for a period of six months. The lawmakers however resolved to commence the process of impeaching Kuria before they break for Christmas.
The MPs said they will start collecting signatures to impeach Kuria after the news that a ship carrying 10,000 tonnes of imported maize was about to dock at the port of Mombasa Tuesday.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said the maize is white but could not give the details of where it is coming from, who is importing it and whether it is genetically modified or not.
MPs warned government agencies including the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) against clearing imports in the absence of a gazette notice.
Lawmakers, mostly from the Rift Valley, want the importation of 10 million bags of GMO maize stopped to protect farmers’ earnings that will set the stage for further inflation rally.
The imports are expected to plug the gap triggered by reduced harvest in the wake of prolonged drought, which pushed the cost of maize flour to an average of Sh190 in October.
