Court Gives Govt Seven Days to Disclose Duty-Free Rice Import Plan

The High Court has given the government seven days to release all documents regarding its plan to import 490,000 metric tonnes of rice without duty.

Justice Alfred Mabeya made the order on July 6, 2026, responding to an urgent petition from the Ahero Rice Farmers Association.

The farmers challenge Gazette Notice No. 10061, which permits duty-free imports of Grade One Milled White Rice until November 30, 2026.

“The state should provide a complete list of all rice importers approved by the government. This list must detail how much rice each importer received and how much has already arrived in the country.” Court ordered.

The court also requested customs documents for each shipment, specifics on duty exemptions, import permits, and the criteria used for selecting importers.

On the other hand, the government must also reveal how much of the 490,000-tonne quota is still available.

Additionally, the state must supply Cabinet memos, policy papers, stakeholder reports, public participation records, and economic impact studies used in this decision.

Ahero Rice Farmers Association Petition Free Rice Import Policy

Justice Mabeya instructed that all responses be submitted before the case returns to court on July 20, 2026.

The Ahero Rice Farmers Association seeks to stop the duty-free imports.

The group states that rice farming supports thousands of farmers, transporters, millers, traders, and others in Kenya’s agricultural value chain.

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Farmers argue they have invested heavily in irrigation, certified seeds, fertilizers, mechanization, harvesting, and milling, expecting the government to protect and promote domestic rice production.

However, the petition claims that Gazette Notice No. 10061 was published without proper consultation with farmers or their representative organizations.

The farmers also assert that the government failed to conduct public participation, publish any regulatory impact or socio-economic assessments, or explain how it determined the 490,000-metric-tonne import quota.

Negative Impacts on Local Farmers and the Legal Challenge to the Policy

The association notes that similar duty-free programs in 2025 and January 2026 have already increased the volume of imported rice in the local market.

It argues that the new policy disproportionately benefits rice importers and exposes local farmers to lower prices, less competitiveness, and significant financial losses.

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The farmers further contend that the government’s actions violate the Constitution regarding public participation, transparency, access to information, and fair administrative processes.

Farmers are asking the court to declare the Gazette Notice unconstitutional and halt it, but the association warns that if duty-free imports continue, they will undermine local production and threaten the livelihoods of thousands of rice farmers across the country.

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The High Court has given the government seven days to release all documents regarding its plan to import 490,000 metric tonnes of rice without duty. Credits Files