ODM leader Raila Odinga has defended himself against attacks targeting him for making a u-turn on GMO foods.
Raila, who 11 years ago stood before Parliament and defended the GMOs, is now leading a push to stop the government from allowing the same into the country.
In a statement on Monday evening, however, Raila clarified that his change of stand was influenced by the evolving science and learning fresh things about the controversial GMOs.
"Odinga’s current position on GMOs is therefore not a case of doublespeak but a result of a willingness to learn, unlearn and relearn, the essence of literacy in the 21st century," his spokesperson Dennis Onyango said in a statement.
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He said his support for GMOs many years back was based on limited information.
He adds that since then, he has accessed new information that enables him to deem unfit the consumption of GMOs in the country.
"As science has evolved over the last decade, so has Odinga’s thinking on GMOs," Onyango stated.
The statement comes a day after Raila condemned the government's plans to import some 10 million bags of GMO maize into the country saying that will “expose Kenyans to health risks”.“
The UDA regime will subject Kenyans to unproven and dangerous foods in an attempt to please international interests that do not care about our safety,” he warned on Sunday.“
"GMOs can cause harm to human and animal life and to entire national ecosystems. They can dramatically reduce or eliminate plant diversity.”
The remarks drew accusations of double speak, with Molo MP Kuria Kimani saying Raila was opposing his word for the sake of it.
"One of the problems I have with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is most of the time he opposes things just for the sake of it. I'm saying this because on August 3, 2011, on the floor of the National Assembly, Raila defended GMO," he said.
