Winnie: GMO is not something that is good for us right now

Winnie Odinga. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

East Africa Legislative Assembly (Eala) MP-elect Winnie Odinga has waded into the genetically modified organisms (GMO) debate, saying the foods are "not good".

Winnie said the government should instead empower citizens to produce enough food for local consumption and export.

Speaking on Spice FM Monday, the Eala MP urged the government not to sacrifice the well-being of Kenyans for short-term gains.

"Politics aside, GMO is not good for Kenya. We need to learn from others who have been consuming them. I have lived in the US and you can see the size of most citizens which can be attributed to consumption of GMO food," said Winnie.

She called for genuine collaboration between East African Community (EAC) member states, saying that almost 60 years since most countries got independence they have been treating each other with suspicion.

This, she said, had impeded regional integration, which she promised to champion at the regional assembly.

"Once citizens of the seven EAC member states recognise each other as brother and sister it would be easier for their respective governments to promote regional integration."

She said citizens of the member states need to have a borderless economy and promised to lobby other legislators to ensure that this is achieved for prosperity of EAC.

"Eala must work towards ensuring that our people have a single currency and also that they are not arrested on the pretext of being illegally in a member state, especially if they are carrying out legitimate activities," said Winnie.