Kenyan High Court Extends GMO Ban

The High Court of Kenya has directed that the interim orders that stopped the importation, distribution and consumption of GMO crops shall remain in force up to 28 March 2023 when the matter shall be heard. This is after the Attorney General applied for the orders to be vacated.  

The hearing that was expected to take place today, did not proceed after the respondents informed the court that there was a similar matter that had been filed by the Law Society of Kenya at the Environment and Land Court in Nyahururu and requested that the two matters be consolidated under the file being heard by Lady Justice Mugure Thande which was granted by the court. The respondents also applied to file additional affidavits and the same was allowed by the Court.  

The case was filed by the Kenya Peasants League (KPL) and Counsel Paul Mwangi and was to came up for hearing today before Lady Justice Mugure Thande. “We were ready to proceed with the matter but now we have to wait up to 28 March 2023 as directed by the court” said the KPL advocate Mr Kevin Oriri.

On his part the KPL Secretary General Cidi Otieno stated that he was happy that interim orders that stopped the importation, distribution and consumption of GMO crops shall remain in force up to 28 March 2023 when the matter shall be heard. Cidi was speaking on the side lines of a public viewing event that was organized in Kangemi for the public to follow the matter.

“We organized this event to enable the public that included university students to follow the court proceedings since this matter is in Public Interest. After the proceedings there was an interactive session where those present were sensitized about the matter in Court. We are confident that we shall get a favourable hearing” said Mr Otieno.

Meanwhile, the court was informed that the Attorney General had appealed to the interim orders at the Court of Appeal. 

KPL Newsdesk