Nairobi: Experts Dismiss Claims GMO Foods Can Make Men Grow Busts

• GMOs had been banned in Kenya since 2012, but William Ruto lifted the ban, in particular, to deal with the historic drought ravaging the Horn of Africa
• The Kenya Kwanza government's decision to authorise the import of genetically modified maize triggered a wave of misinformation in the country
• Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) held a breakfast briefing on biotechnology awareness

Nairobi - In October 2022, President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration authorised the import and cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

GMOs had been banned in Kenya since 2012, but Ruto lifted the ban, in particular, to deal with the historic drought ravaging the Horn of Africa.

However, the government's decision to authorise the import of genetically modified maize triggered a wave of misinformation in the country, fuelled by sweeping statements by rival politicians.

Media breakfast briefing on biotechnology awareness

Against this backdrop, on Tuesday, August 1, the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) held a breakfast briefing on biotechnology awareness.

The event held at the Serena Hotel, Nairobi aimed to enhance ag-biotech understanding and reporting.

Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho, who spoke on behalf of the media fraternity, observed that a constant narrative blames the Kenyan media for misinformation and propaganda.

“A report showed that Kenyan media is the worst candidate for misinformation, especially on GMOs. This is a misleading and erroneous narrative,” said Gaitho, a KEG member.

Gaitho was reacting to remarks by Canisius Kanangire, the Executive Director of AATF, who indicated that the media's role is to educate and enlighten the public by bringing out the facts that drive knowledge and opinion.

“Unfortunately, misinformation and disinformation have clouded public perception, leaving people uncertain about the safety of products of such technologies, specifically GMOs,” Kanangire said.

Food security factor

Kanangire also said that food security remains a significant global concern.

“This means that the media's role in sharing accurate information is paramount, particularly in the context of agricultural technologies like biotechnology including genetic modification and gene editing,” he added.

A study by the Alliance for Science, a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation showed that the main source of false or misleading comments on this subject are statements by "leading Kenyan politicians", which are then relayed by the media.

"Both sides in this debate, those in favour of GMOs and those against, have to some extent propagated this type of misinformation," said Anne Maina, coordinator of the Kenyan Biodiversity and Biosafety Association (BIBA).

For instance, Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga claimed that eating food from GMO crops would make men grow breasts and women's testicles.

Scientists disagree with Raila Odinga

But experts, including those from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), consider that there is no scientific evidence of sex changes in humans caused by eating GMO food.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), states that GMO foods available on the market comply with safety regulations and are unlikely to prove harmful.

On her part, KEG CEO Rosalia Omungo said that the organisation was happy to start the journey of collaboration with AATF in demystifying the subject towards accurate reporting in the media.

"The media is interesting when it comes to story development, especially in science and technology. However, we would like to understand the process of GMOs in Kenya. What is the role of the media when it comes to GMOs in Kenya? What is the role of editors in biotechnology in this era?” she posed.

Kenyan Bt cotton farmers

Meanwhile, Kanangire noted compelling stories of farmers using GM crops, like the recent case of Bt cotton farmers in Kenya.

“The stories of farmers using or have seen GMO crops like the Bt cotton in Kenya and Bt maize in South Africa where clear benefits have been demonstrated and the levels of doubt, and fear reduced by the evidence of safety and efficacy,” Kanangire said.

Kanangire further said that misinformation and disinformation about GMOs had clouded public perception, leaving people uncertain about the safety of products of such technologies.

“This has become more pronounced in Kenya following the Cabinet’s decision to lift the GMO ban and allow for the cultivation of GMO maize. In this context, the role of our editors becomes critical in empowering the public with credible and expert sources of information and opinion,” he explained.

KEG President Zubeida Koome on her part confirmed there has been an evolution of media from strictly business or political angle to now accommodating science desks in leading media houses.

Court of Appeal throws out GMO application

TUKO.co.ke previously reported that the government suffered a major setback after the Court of Appeal dismissed an application to allow the importation of GMO foods into the country, saying the appeal lacks merit.

The three-judge bench consisting of justices Mohammed Warsame, Ali Abida Aroni, and John Mativo threw out the appeal by the state which sought to overturn a High Court ruling that suspended the importation of GMO crops.

The Kenya Peasants League, a lobby group representing peasant farmers, had moved to court to challenge the plan.