In a strategic move to safeguard national food security and shield Kenyan households from rising food costs, the government has approved the duty-free importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of Grade 1 milled white rice.
This decision, sanctioned by the Cabinet under Memorandum CAB(25)90 and published in Kenya Gazette Notice No. 10353 dated 28th July 2025, is a timely response to the country’s widening rice supply deficit.
According to Dr. Bruno Linyiru, OGW, Director General, Kenya consumes approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice annually, but local production only meets about 20% of this demand, with 264,000 metric tonnes produced this year. The remainder is typically filled through imports.
However, global supply disruptions and price shocks have recently made rice imports both unpredictable and expensive, disproportionately impacting low-income households.
“Without immediate intervention, the shortfall would trigger severe food scarcity or drastic price hikes—not just for rice but for other staple foods such as maize flour and wheat products,” said Dr. Linyiru.
Protecting Households, Supporting Farmers
The duty-free import window is intended to stabilize prices and ensure affordability, especially for vulnerable populations. The government has emphasized that this is a short-term measure, complementing longer-term strategies aimed at boosting local rice production.
To prevent any disruption to local markets or harm to Kenyan farmers, the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) has been actively procuring rice directly from paddy farms and continues to guarantee a market for local producers throughout the milling process.
“Our farmers remain a priority. The importation is designed not to compete with but to complement local production efforts,” Dr. Linyiru affirmed.
Strict Import Standards
To maintain quality and consumer safety, all imported rice must:
- Be Grade 1 milled white rice
- Meet both Kenyan and international food safety standards
- Carry a Certificate of Conformity from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
The duty-free import window is time-bound, with all consignments required to arrive on or before 31st December 2025 under strict regulatory oversight.
Kenya has consistently relied on imports to meet national rice demand. Below is a summary of recent production and import trends:
| Year | Production (MT) | Imports (MT) | Total (MT) | % Local Production |
| 2022 | 122,045 | 678,088 | 800,133 | 15% |
| 2023 | 150,000 | 922,386 | 1,072,386 | 14% |
| 2024 | 191,067.5 | 742,367 | 933,434.5 | 20.47% |
To reduce long-term import dependency, the government in partnership with Japan is scaling up operations in the Mwea, Ahero, and Bura Irrigation Schemes as part of the National Rice Development Strategy.
This includes investing in irrigation infrastructure, quality inputs, structured markets, and value addition for rice farmers.
“This is a short-term solution in service of a long-term vision: to make Kenya self-sufficient in rice production while protecting consumers and empowering local farmers,” concluded Dr. Linyiru.
The move underscores the government’s commitment to food security, economic resilience, and farmer empowerment amid a volatile global food market.
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