Court gives gov't 30 days to buy local rice before duty-free imports
Judge Edward Muriithi presides over a case at the High Court in Kerugoya. Photo/Courtesy
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The High Court in Kerugoya has given the government 30 days to clear locally produced rice from stores and farmers before proceeding with duty-free rice imports.
Justice Edward Muriithi allowed the importation of 254,000 metric tonnes of duty-free rice to be carried out in three phases of 85,000 metric tonnes each on March 1, April 1, and May 1, 2026.
The court said the decision was aimed at striking a balance between protecting local farmers and supporting the government’s food security commitments.
The ruling stems from a July 2025 gazette notice that had authorised the importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of duty-free rice, a move that was later suspended by the court.
Earlier, the court had capped rice imports at 250,000 metric tonnes as part of measures to safeguard local producers.
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