The case filed by Azimio lawyer Paul Mwangi challenging the legality of the decision by the government to import Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) will commence on December 15.
Mwangi, a long-time lawyer of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga, had protested the procedure followed in arriving at the decision.
In his petition, Mwangi argued that the decision was unconstitutional and hence sought orders to bar the importation.
He also argued that the lifting of the ban that had been in existence since 2012 would expose both farmers and consumers to health hazards.
“A declaration that the decision of the cabinet made on October 3, 2022purpotedly lifting a ban on the cultivation within and importation into the republic of Kenya of foods and
animal feeds that are produced from genetically modified seeds and other organisms is unconstitutional for
derogating and threatening to derogate the following rights of the petitioner and the people of the Republic of Kenya,” his petition read in part.
“The hasty removal of all regulatory protocols in the cultivation and trade in genetically modified foods in Kenya is neither rational nor reasonable.”
The announcement came amid a heated debate as a section of leaders opposed the decision to import GMO products.
Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria was also subjected to scrutiny as a section of members of parliament threatened to impeach him from office.
This followed a move by the CS to approve the importation of ten million bags of maize in response to the shortage and high prices of maize products.
Members of parliament from the maize-producing areas opposed the move, arguing that it would affect the prices of maize in the country and consequently lead to losses.
The CS, however, dismissed the critics and reaffirmed his former stance of ensuring low prices of maize flour in the country.
