Clergy calls for more sensitization on GMOs

Rev. Fredrick Ngugi, National Chairman of Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Clergy of Kenya (APECK) (in white shirt) and Bishop John Chere, Chair of APECK in Githunguri Sub-county, Kiambu County (in pink shirt) during an interview.

Religious leaders have called for greater sensitization on genetically modified (GM) crops.

The leaders, under the umbrella body of the Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Clergy of Kenya (APECK), have called for increased public education on the cultivation and importation of GM crops, which are touted to reduce the country's food import bill and enhance food security.

During a meeting with the Kenya University Biotechnology Consortium (KUBICO), Rev. Fredrick Ngugi, National Chairman of APECK, noted the need for the government, in collaboration with university experts, to provide more information on the technology.

“We have been condemning GMOs without proper information. We have learnt that GMOs are not about introducing poison, but rather improving crops to resist diseases and pests, and to increase yield,” Ngugi said.

He pointed out the importance of scientific methods in farming but stressed that more awareness is needed before the full rollout of GM crops early next year.

He added that the government to invest more in GM crop research to ensure that only safe and high-quality crops are grown and consumed in the country.

Bishop John Chere, Chair of APECK in Githunguri Sub-county, Kiambu County said after receiving training on the subject, they are now better equipped to educate their congregants on GMO matters.

“We have been informed about the process, and we urge our fellow leaders, who have been vocal in condemning this technology, to unite in the fight against food insecurity,” Chere said.

Dr. Joel Ochieng, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nairobi, pointed out that one of the key reasons for the slow adoption of new technologies is the lack of information.

He added that clergy, who have successfully communicated other technologies to the public in the past, are ideally positioned to spread awareness about GMOs.

“The church is in a unique position to spread the truth because it is trusted by the masses and is not driven by hidden agendas,” said Ochieng, who is also the Secretary-General for the Kenyatta University Biotechnology Consortium (KUBICO).

He expressed hope that the government would support sensitization efforts directly, as well as through the church and other institutions.

“We want to prevent the suffering of millions of Kenyans facing starvation and reduce food imports that Kenyan researchers can help produce locally,” he added.

Prof. Richard Oduor, a Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology and Registrar of Research at Kenyatta University, said that discussions around GMO technology have largely been limited to politicians, lawyers, judges, and students, leaving out important community leaders like the clergy.

“Scientists can communicate directly with religious leaders, who in turn can disseminate truthful information to a broader audience,” he said.

Earlier this month, the High Court dismissed several petitions challenging the lifting of the ban on GMO crops, clearing the way for the cultivation and importation of GMOs in Kenya.

Kenya joins a list of countries including Burkina Faso, Egypt, Eswatini, Malawi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, and Zambia, which have already approved the cultivation of GM crops.