Activist Okiya Omtatah is once again in court to sue the National Government over importation of maize.
According to the vocal human rights activist, the maize set to be imported does not meet the East African Community Standard.
In his application filed on Friday under urgency on behalf of the Strategic Rood Reserve Trust Fund, Omtatah claims the importation will endanger the lives of members of the public who consume maize products either directly or indirectly.
Omtatah notes that the importation of the maize had been objected by the Fund and was aggrieved that, vide Gazette Notice of April 17,2020, which was published on April 20, 2020, Treasury CS Ukur Yatani authorised the importation of substandard dry maize at a concessional import duty rate of 14 per cent for white maize and 10 per cent for yellow maize.
He further states that whereas the Gazette notice allows the importation of maize whose aflatoxin levels don’t exceed 10ppm (parts per million) the East African Community Standard sets a maximum limit of 10 ppb (parts per billion) as safe for human and animal consumption.
He states that the East African Community Standard is recognized and endorsed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
The activist argues that the unlawful importation of the maize violates the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, including the rights to life (Article 26); human dignity (Article 28); a clean and healthy environment (Article 42).
Omtatah says that the fund reasonably suspects that the lowering of standards contrary to the law to allow for the importation of substandard maize is deliberate and tailor-made to serve vested interests.
He says that unless the stay is granted, substandard maize will be imported and the lives of millions of Kenyans will be put in danger, and the Constitution and the law will continue to be violated and threatened as stated.
