Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has launched a scathing attack against the national government’s decision to allow the duty-free importation of basmati rice, warning it risks paralyzing Kenya’s local rice industry and ruining the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, October 30, Governor Waiguru said the importation of duty-free rice has destabilized the market just as farmers in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, prepare to harvest their crops. She described the policy as a betrayal of Kenya’s commitment to self-reliance in food production.
“Our Mwea rice farmers have invested heavily to produce high-quality Pishori rice, spending about Ksh60 per kilogram. The recent decision to import duty-free basmati rice has flooded the market, pushing prices down just as farmers prepare for a bumper harvest. This threatens their livelihoods and years of progress,” she said.
Waiguru urged the government to immediately review its import policy and prioritize the purchase of locally produced rice to protect Kenyan farmers from unfair competition.
“I once again urge the National Government to prioritize the uptake of Mwea rice as a matter of urgency and protect our farmers by supporting local production. Safeguarding this sector means securing thousands of households that depend on rice farming and advancing Kenya’s goal of true food security and agricultural self-reliance,” she added.
The governor’s remarks underscore growing tensions between county governments and national policymakers over agricultural import policies that directly impact local producers. The Mwea Irrigation Scheme is the largest rice-producing project in Kenya, supporting more than 8,000 farmers, and is key in the country’s food security strategy.
Earlier in the year, the National Treasury approved the duty-free importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of rice, a directive set to run until December 2025. The order was formalized through a Gazette notice issued on Monday, July 28, by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that, pursuant to section 114 (2) of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, as read with item 20 of Part B of the Fifth Schedule to the Act, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, upon recommendation by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Livestock Development, directs that 500,000 metric tonnes of Grade 1 Milled White Rice be imported into Kenya duty free on or before the 31st December, 2025,” the notice read.
The directive makes it mandatory that all rice consignments comply with international and local food safety standards, with importers being required to present a Certificate of Conformity from KEBS.
Ksh500 Million Local Rice Purchase Initiative
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had earlier rolled out a Ksh500 million program to buy locally produced rice from farmers in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme before the import policy was put in place.
In a statement issued on Friday, May 30, the government announced its plans to buy 5,000 metric tonnes of rice through the Kenya National Trading Corporation, in efforts to have prices stabilized and farmers’ incomes secure.
“To protect the livelihoods of over 8,500 rice farmers from Kirinyaga and neighbouring counties, KNTC will mop up over 5,000 metric tonnes of locally grown rice valued at approximately Ksh500 million. The Cooperative will receive full payment within one month after delivery, a significant improvement on previous delays that hampered farmers’ operations and cash flow,” the statement read.
The intervention followed persistent appeals from farmers who had urged the government to halt rice imports temporarily to allow the sale of unsold local stock.
“This move follows farmers’ calls to halt rice importation temporarily to allow for the sale of existing local stock. The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, directed AFA to visit the region with KNTC and find a solution. While acknowledging the strategic need for some imports due to the national rice deficit, the Ministry recognizes the importance of supporting local production first,” the statement added.
As the import debate intensifies, farmers in Mwea and other rice-growing regions fear that duty-free imports could erode years of investment in local rice production. Waiguru has vowed to continue defending the interests of Kirinyaga farmers, insisting that Kenya’s food security begins with empowering its producers, not replacing them with imports.
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