Kenya - MILLERS denied they have been involved in the importation of genetically modified organisms. The millers also warned that the cost of maize flour will continue to rise unless the price of 90 kg bag of maize goes down from Sh3,000 to 2,200.
Chairman of the Cereal Millers Association Diamond Lalji denied claims by the joint parliamentary committees on Agriculture, Defence and Foreign Relations and Health that millers have been involved in importation of GMO maize into the country. "We have not been dealing in GMO maize. And this is not because they are bad. In fact, GMOs are grown in 125 countries in the world," Lalji said. Lalji spoke as the CEOs of the country's 12 largest milling companies appeared before the joint committee.
The session jointly chaired by MP John Mututho (Naivasha), Dr Richard Monda and (Nyaribari Chache) also questioned James Wild, the CEO of a Dutch company LouisDreyfus Commodities involved in importation of maize.
Lalji ran into trouble with committee members who said GMO products are not good for human consumption. "Do you mean to tell us that it is proper to consume products made from such genetically modified organism? "Mututho wondered.
Unga, Easter Flours , Chania, Pembe, TSS, Mombasa Maize Mills, Uzuri Foods were among the company's represented at the committee meeting. Wild was grilled on how his company imported 250,000 tons of maize and on the handling of the cargo delivered at the port of Mombasa.
A huge percentage of the imported consignment contained contaminated maize which later tested positive for aflatoxin."We were aware that a certificate of non-conformity will be issued which meant the maize had to be destroyed," Wild said. He denied that though his company had attempted to import GMO maize from South Africa to Kenya the same did not materialize.
The Dutchman was at pains to explain the relationship between his company and the American government following pressure exerted by the US ambassador to Kenya. Michael Ranneberger on the ministry of Industrialization to clear the consignment.
Tests by both Kephis and Kenya Bureau of Standards indicated that the moisture level measured 14% and not 13.5% as per the government standards.
MPs feared that the contaminated maize was allowed to circulate in the country and may have caused irreparable but yet to be detected damages.
There was confusion in the committee after Public Health Minister Beth Mugo who was also called to testify before the committee started contradicting her officers making the committee to halt examination of the minister. Mugo was given more time to consult and will appear before the committee on Thursday for final submissions of her evidence.
MPs Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito), John Pesa (Migori), Eratus Mureithi (Ol kalau), Fred Outa (Nyando), Dr Abdi Nuh (Bura) and Victor Munyaka (Machakos) were also present.
