Kenyans subjected to world’s worst misinformation on GMOs, study finds

Kenyans are subjected to the worst misinformation in the world when it comes to genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), a new study released today by the Alliance for Science has found.

The study examined media reports on GMOs over three months between October-January. A whopping 40 percent of articles published on GMOs, by 14 major media outlets, contained misinformation that wasn’t rebutted in the articles.

The level of misinformation and downright lies on the topic is likely polarising the political debate as the government faces political and legal challenges to its recent decision to permit GMO crops to be grown and imported into Kenya.

Recent droughts — the worst in decades — and soaring food prices are behind the government’s decision to allow varieties of crops that can better withstand drought and pests.

“This is extremely concerning. It will be very difficult for Kenyan citizens to make properly informed decisions about GMOs in the face of this storm of misinformation.

The Alliance for Science study examined 376 media articles, 40 percent of which contained anti-GMO misinformation.

Pro-GMO misinformation was found in just one percent of the articles — demonstrating that the misinformation skews heavily anti-GMO.

Assist media in doing a better job

Most media stories that contained un-rebutted misinformation repeated falsehoods about GMOs made by prominent politicians.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, for example, made many false statements alleging the negative health impacts of GMOs. As did Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah, who ludicrously claims GMOs make men grow breasts and women grow beards.

“It is no longer enough to simply report what someone said. Journalists and media houses must do more than simply report the controversy. In doing so they risk unwittingly spreading misinformation.”

Non-profits such as Kenyan Peasants League and Food Rights Alliance also made statements about GMO health effects that have no scientific basis, and these statements were repeated by media outlets without rebuttal.

Alliance for Science director Sheila Ochugboju said: “This is extremely concerning. It will be very difficult for Kenyan citizens to make properly informed decisions about GMOs in the face of this storm of misinformation.

“We have not conducted this research to point fingers but to assist media in doing a better job of holding prominent persons and NGOs to account when they make unfounded claims about GMOs and other issues of scientific controversy.

“It is no longer enough to simply report what someone said. Journalists and media houses must do more than simply report the controversy. In doing so they risk unwittingly spreading misinformation.”

Misinformation readily available

Misinformation is not only a problem for Kenya, or Africa. Nor is it limited to the issue of genetically modified crops.

Misinformation about the health effects of smoking, climate change, and vaccine safety have proliferated over the years, although with the rise of social media, misinformation is arguably more readily available today.

“We have not conducted this research to point fingers but to assist media in doing a better job of holding prominent persons and NGOs to account when they make unfounded claims about GMOs and other issues of scientific controversy.

An earlier Alliance for Science study (examining the period 2019-2021) found rates of GMO misinformation in the global media of nine percent, with rates in Africa as high as 20 percent. Kenya’s 40 percent rate makes it the world’s worst.

Previous research by the Alliance for Science found that President Donald Trump was the biggest single source of COVID misinformation during the pandemic and that US media outlets were repeating his unfounded claims without sufficient expert context or rebuttal.