‘Terrible Decision’: Martha Karua Condemns High Court Ruling on GMO Ban Lift in Kenya.

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has fiercely criticized the recent High Court ruling that dismissed a petition challenging the government’s decision to lift the ban on genetically modified (GMO) foods. Karua expressed deep dissatisfaction, labeling the court’s ruling as a “terrible decision” that disregards citizens’ rights over food safety and threatens Kenya’s traditional farming practices.

In a statement shared on her X account, Karua emphasized her belief that the ruling dismisses citizens’ fundamental right to choose safe foods and to preserve indigenous farming methods. She urged that the ruling should be reconsidered through appeal, asserting her stance against GMOs and their impact on local agriculture.

A Threat to Food Sovereignty
Karua warned that introducing GMO seeds into Kenya’s food system could lead to soil pollution, undermining neighboring farms and locking farmers into dependence on multinational corporations. “GMOs have the ability to pollute the soil around them, rendering neighboring farmers incapable of using seeds other than from the multinationals—which amounts to slavery,” she said.

The former justice minister further argued that Kenya should consider the global resistance to GMOs. She highlighted that a number of European, Asian, African, and South American countries have banned GMOs, including France, Germany, Hungary, Algeria, and Turkey.

The High Court’s Position
The High Court ruling, delivered on November 7, dismissed the petitions, stating that the Environment and Land Court had addressed similar issues the previous year. Justice Lawrence Mugambi stated that the government had implemented sufficient safety measures to handle the concerns raised. “In view of the above, the court finds that the current petition is res judicata and strikes it out with no orders as to costs,” he ruled.

Karua remains hopeful that an appeal will revisit the decision, pressing for the rights of Kenyans to make informed choices on food safety and uphold Kenya’s agricultural heritage.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.