Nyeri Diocese Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Muheria, has called for ‘sober’ engagements between the government and food experts to unlock the gridlock surrounding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Archbishop Muheria argues that the GMO debate should not be trivialized like it has and that an open forum bringing together experts in the field of agriculture and food should be engaged to offer a clear direction that the country should take before embracing the consumption of GMOs.
“When we speak about GMOs, it is a matter that deserves deep, strategic, respectful and sober engagements. It is not for us to embrace them wholeheartedly without reservations nor do we want a situation where we reject their use even if it could be for a specific period of time,” said Arch Muheria.
“We call for a good moment of engagement by government and the agriculture and food experts so that we may find the right path. We also need to discuss the dangers that Kenyans are exposed to, sometimes it is exaggerated, sometimes it can be contained and mitigated, we should not just discuss emotions, let us discuss scientific facts,” he added.
The Nyeri Archbishop also weighed in on the food sufficiency matter and said that there was need to find a long term solution to the perennial drought situation. According to Muheria, the current famine situation was as a result of poor planning and the lack of strategy adding that the government should change its approach in order to make the country food secure. Further, he also called for improved agricultural and water harvesting practices which he said would contribute towards making the country food secure.
“We have been managing the crisis instead of properly planning. As a long-term solution, we need to address what ails Kenya and what it is that makes us not to be food sufficient. We must address issues of improved agricultural methods, sustainable support to agriculture and how we store harvested food and in this context we will be able to be food sufficient and plant for adversity and moments when rains fail, “said Arch Muheria.
By Wangari Mwangi and Rose-Angeline Ndirangu
