University students threaten to strike over GMO ban

University students are opting out of biotechnology courses due to fears they might not get internship and jobs after graduation due to the ongoing ban on genetically modified, or GM, food crops by the government, writes Dennis Odunga for the Nation.

The students, mainly from the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, Moi University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, accused the government of putting their careers on the line by playing politics with the matter. In a statement read by University of Nairobi Students Union Chairman Babu Owino, the students said the ban was affecting them due to the uncertainty clouding the course that entails intensive research of the genetically modified products.

The students gave the government an ultimatum: failure to reverse the decision by the end of January next year would result in a massive strike across all public universities. “The power of the people is stronger than the people in power. We will give an ultimatum as from January even if it means going to the streets to protect the rights of our students,” Owino said.
Full report on the Nation site