Court Halts GMO Crops as Activists Fight for Farmers' Seed Rights

Kenyan civil society groups have welcomed a landmark Court of Appeal ruling that temporarily blocks the importation of genetically modified (GM) crops, calling it a major victory for farmers and food sovereignty. However, activists warn that the fight is far from over, with an upcoming seed litigation case in May set to determine the future of farmer-managed seed systems in Kenya.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Thursday 20, Greenpeace Africa, the Kenya Peasants League, and the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya (BIBA Kenya) stressed that the court’s decision was only the first step in protecting farmers from corporate-controlled agriculture.

Elizabeth Atieno, Food Sovereignty Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Africa, hailed the ruling but emphasized that the upcoming seed litigation case is even more critical.

“This ruling is a triumph for Kenyan farmers and consumers alike,” she said. “However, the real test is ahead. If corporations gain control over seeds through patents and restrictive laws, farmers will no longer have the right to save, share, or exchange seeds—something they have done for generations. Instead, they will be forced to buy new seeds every season, increasing their dependence on expensive corporate-controlled agriculture.”

Atieno stressed that this is not a rejection of science but a call for sustainable and people-centered agricultural progress.

“We do not oppose innovation,” she said. “But true progress means strengthening what already works, not replacing it with a system that deepens dependency and increases costs for farmers while concentrating seed control in the hands of a few corporations.”

Ann Maina, National Coordinator at BIBA Kenya, criticized GMOs as tools for corporate dominance rather than solutions to hunger.

“We are told GMOs will solve hunger. But do they? Do they make food more affordable? No. What they do is create a system where farmers are forced to buy seeds year after year, where indigenous seed varieties are pushed aside, and where soils are soaked in toxic chemicals just to keep these crops alive,” she said.

Maina warned that corporate seed patents and agreements like UPOV 91 threaten farmers' ability to save and replant seeds, putting Kenya’s agricultural independence at risk.

“These laws are not designed to protect farmers,” she said. “They prioritize corporate profits over biodiversity and nutrition, forcing communities into monoculture systems that do not provide adequate nourishment.”

She urged policymakers to invest in agroecology and local seed breeding programs instead of GM crops.

“This is not just about GMOs—it’s about the future of food in Kenya,” Maina said. “The people have spoken through the courts. Now, we must ensure that this victory is not undone.”

Cidi Otieno from the Kenya Peasants League described the upcoming May litigation as a decisive moment for the country’s food systems.

“We are fighting not just against GMOs but for the protection of indigenous seed varieties, farmers’ rights, and agricultural biodiversity,” he said. “If these laws criminalize our right to save and exchange seeds, we will be forced into permanent dependency on multinational corporations.”

The press conference concluded with calls for collective action from farmers, civil society, and policymakers to protect seed sovereignty.

“The future of our food, biodiversity, and independence is at stake,” Atieno said. “Once these rights are lost, they may never be regained.”

The seed litigation case in May is expected to set a precedent not just for Kenya but for the broader African region, influencing policies on food sovereignty and corporate control over agriculture.