Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto announced [1] August 12 that the Kenyan government will soon lift a ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) [2]to create an enabling environment for the growth of biotechnology innovation and industries in Kenya.
GMO is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The Kenyan government banned GMOs since 2012 [3] following the release of a study found that GMO maize caused cancer in rats.
The subject of GMOs is surrounded by controversy [4] with international advocacy groups such as Organic Consumers Association, the Union of Concerned Scientists and Greenpeace claiming that GMOs risks have not been adequately identified.
Reactions on Twitter [5] varied sharply following Ruto's announcement.
Anti: ‘GMOs are a sin against humanity’
Padie Mwangi claims that Kenya's elite will save itself while the rest of the population is lumbered with GMOs.
Politicians like RUTO will tell u 2 to eat GMOs while their Families eat indigenous crops from their organic farms. http://t.co/HVI9uIMdwC [6]
— Padie (@Padiemwangi) August 13, 2015 [7]
Are we cleverer than bees and flies?
Imagine neither Bees nor Flies land on #GMOs [8] and we think we are clever than they @ConsumersKenya [9] @C_NyakundiH [10]
— Vincent Mocha (@ItsMakori) August 13, 2015 [11]
HeinrichBöllStiftung in Nairobi, Kenya noted that genetically modified seeds’ prices keep soaring:
GM seed prices are protected by patents and their prices have soared over the last 20 years. #Foodsovereignity [12] #stopGMOsKenya [13] @ayicckenya [14]
— HeinrichBöllStiftung (@HBSNairobi) August 13, 2015 [15]
Youth Without Future said:
Not ALL Technology is GOOD: @Williamsruto [16] is like always, not concerned with public good. Why cancer everywhere? Diabetes? HBP?….GMOs
— youth without future (@YWFkenya) August 13, 2015 [17]
COFEK, KENYA advised the government on how to best help Kenyan farmers without the use of GMOs:
Stop corruption. Offer incentives to Kenya's resilient farmers. Open up the domestic/foreign markets #StopGMOsKenya [5] https://t.co/SeChU1X3hN [18]
— COFEK, KENYA (@ConsumersKenya) August 13, 2015 [19]
S.W. Maina warned:
Once you OK GMOs, you open loopholes for abuse that you can't close, Bwana @WilliamsRuto [16]. Don't do it. https://t.co/5oMmCif8bj [20]
— #WorldElephantDay (@swmaina) August 13, 2015 [21]
Is labeling GM products for consumers a solution?:
@imBarasa [22] @PatrikJnr [23] the problem in most countries has been labeling of GMOs. Not sure with our level of corruption and negligence
— #Kenya #Online (@irenesconcierge) August 13, 2015 [24]
Truther Botred described GMOs as a “sin against humanity”:
GMOs are a sin against humanity because we're not short on food on this planet.
— trutherbotred (@trutherbotred) August 12, 2015 [25]
Following Deputy President Ruto’s now infamous opposition to homosexuality [26] in Kenya, Dennis Maina said:
Dear @WilliamsRuto [16] GMOs are more harmful to the entire society than gayism please #StopGMOsKenya [5] @C_NyaKundiH [10] @ConsumersKenya [9]
— Dennis maina (@Dennismaina4) August 13, 2015 [27]
Billow Ismail Jr. is worried that the Kenyan health system will not be able to handle GMO-related health risks:
@jafferisaak [28] Our health care system is already crashing and they want to flood the market with GMO food..#StopGMOsKenya [5]
— Billow Ismail Jr. (@billow_jr) August 13, 2015 [29]
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) reminded Ruto about the claims [30] that GMOs have led Indian farmers to commit suicide [31]:
#SomeoneTellRuto [32] In India hundreds of farmers have committed SUICIDE over GMOs #StopGMOsKenya [5] https://t.co/iuuqb0oHl1 [33]
— COFEK, KENYA (@ConsumersKenya) August 12, 2015 [34]
Alien Axioms maintained that GMOs will not solve Kenya’s food shortages:
GMOs do not increase yields, and work against feeding a hungry world. Don't fall for @MonsantoCo [35] propaganda.
— Alien Axioms (@AlienAxioms) August 12, 2015 [36]
While Olive Njeri called for focus on organic farming:
#SomeoneTellRuto [32]: #StopGMOsKenya [5] KENYA STANDS A BETTER CHANCE AT IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY BY EMBRACING ORGANIC FARMING http://t.co/UdEWNc1Oqf [37]
— olive (@aulyvnjeri) August 12, 2015 [38]
Pro: ‘Every technology is always opposed in the beginning’
Responding to arguments opposing the move by @KiamaKaara and @ConsumersKenya, Mwangi Wambui remarked:
@KiamaKaara [39] @ConsumersKenya [9] You can't just tell pple to #stopgmoskenya [40] w/out giving them an alternative. #gmos [41] #Gmo [42]
— Mwangi Wambui (@hadasnoop) August 13, 2015 [43]
Supporting the lifting of the ban, Mesha Kenya tweeted:
#SomeoneTellRuto [32] #StopGMOsKenya [5] – Kenyan farmers are eager to plant the GM seeds @aghandan [44]
— Mesha Kenya (@MeshaKenya) August 13, 2015 [45]
David Muthini asked the opponents of GMOs the following question:
@consumerskenya [9] @gmwatch [46] #StopGMOsKenya [5] is backward and ignorant. Tell me the danger of GMO cotton for example…
— Davis Muthini (@DavisMuthini) August 13, 2015 [47]
Ben Makenzie pointed out:
#GMOs [8] are not substantially different from their non-GMO counterparts in regard to nutrition or taste. William Ruto should support them.
— Ben (@Ben_Makenzie) August 13, 2015 [48]
TechGuideKE explained why Kenyan farmers need GMOs:
Many farmers rely on rain fed agriculture and therefore planting drought resistant crops would be best. This is made possible through #GMOs [8]
— ConsumerTechGuide (@TechGuideKE) August 13, 2015 [49]
“Whats the fuss about GMOs?” asked Junior Mwanza:
Whats the fuss about GMOs? we practically eat that stuff every day i mean, with the make up, bleaching and other scientific stuff ladies use
— Junior Mwanza (@Jr_2M) August 13, 2015 [50]
Dorothy Akolo castigated those opposed to the ban saying:
@kbcchannel1 [51] @calestous [52] @jkioria [53] Those opposed to #GMOs [8] want a hungry #Africa [54] so they can look “philanthropic” dumping commodities in Africa
— Judith Dora Akolo (@JudithAkolo) August 13, 2015 [55]
Team Korir compared the opposition to GMOs to that of other useful technologies in the past:
Every technology is always opposed in the beginning. Electricity had its opponents even if it was to benefit the people #TalkGMOFacts [56] #GMOs [8]
— TeamKorir (@tkorir) August 13, 2015 [57]