Kenyans will soon start buying genetically modified maize flour from the nearest outlet stores.
However the flour will be clearly labelled to give consumers freedom to choose. This came even as Cereal millers refuted claims that GMO maize has been imported into the country.
The chairman of cereal millers Diamond Lalji addressing the press on Friday, said millers are awaiting import and distribution guidelines from the National Bio-Safety Authority, the body charged with regulating all GM activities in Kenya.
He said all imported maize is being sourced from Zambia and Malawi which do not produce genetically modified crops.
The government last month allowed millers to import cheaper genetically modified maize from South Africa to help ease the acute shortage in the country.
Major supermarkets have doubled the price of a 2kg packet of flour owing to the shortage. The price of Jogoo brand is now at Sh150, up from Sh75.
Protests
Early this week, protestors marched through the streets of Nairobi, against the planned importation of genetically engineered maize by millers.
The demonstrators claimed that a large shipment loaded with GM maize had already docked at the port of Mombasa, and feared it could contaminate the soil.
Next week, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture plans to visit the port to ascertain the status of the 8,000 metric tons of imported maize.
African governments have been under pressure from pro-GM lobbies to allow the crops to avert food shortage.
Kenya has however been pursuing the adoption of genetically modified crops after the government gazetted the Biosafety Act. President Kibaki signed it into law in 2009.
Opponents say GMOs could have harmful long-term genetic impact on humans and wildlife.
In 2002, Zambia rejected GM food aid in the midst of a food crisis affecting some three million people.
However the flour will be clearly labelled to give consumers freedom to choose. This came even as Cereal millers refuted claims that GMO maize has been imported into the country.
The chairman of cereal millers Diamond Lalji addressing the press on Friday, said millers are awaiting import and distribution guidelines from the National Bio-Safety Authority, the body charged with regulating all GM activities in Kenya.
He said all imported maize is being sourced from Zambia and Malawi which do not produce genetically modified crops.
The government last month allowed millers to import cheaper genetically modified maize from South Africa to help ease the acute shortage in the country.
Major supermarkets have doubled the price of a 2kg packet of flour owing to the shortage. The price of Jogoo brand is now at Sh150, up from Sh75.
Protests
Early this week, protestors marched through the streets of Nairobi, against the planned importation of genetically engineered maize by millers.
The demonstrators claimed that a large shipment loaded with GM maize had already docked at the port of Mombasa, and feared it could contaminate the soil.
African governments have been under pressure from pro-GM lobbies to allow the crops to avert food shortage.
Kenya has however been pursuing the adoption of genetically modified crops after the government gazetted the Biosafety Act. President Kibaki signed it into law in 2009.
Opponents say GMOs could have harmful long-term genetic impact on humans and wildlife.
In 2002, Zambia rejected GM food aid in the midst of a food crisis affecting some three million people.
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