Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has strongly criticized the government’s decision to allow the importation of duty-free basmati rice, warning that the move risks crippling local rice farmers in Mwea.
In a statement on Thursday, October 30, Waiguru said the policy has flooded the market with cheap imported rice, slashing prices just as local farmers were preparing for a bumper harvest.
“Our Mwea rice farmers have invested heavily to produce high-quality Pishori rice, spending about Ksh60 per kilogram. The recent importation of duty-free basmati rice has flooded the market and pushed prices down. This threatens their livelihoods and years of progress,” she said.
Waiguru urged the national government to urgently review its policy and place local producers at the heart of its agricultural strategy.
“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 food security and self-reliance,” Waiguru added.
Her statement comes months after the National Treasury approved the importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of duty-free rice, a move announced in a gazette notice by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi on July 28.
The directive allows importers to bring in Grade 1 Milled White Rice duty-free until December 31, 2025, under strict food safety and KEBS certification standards.
Earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture had unveiled a Ksh500 million plan to purchase over 5,000 metric tonnes of locally grown rice from the Mwea Irrigation Scheme through the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) a move meant to cushion over 8,500 farmers affected by declining prices and slow sales.
Farmers, however, have repeatedly urged the government to suspend rice imports temporarily to allow the sale of existing local stocks, citing rising frustration and dwindling earnings.
Waiguru’s remarks now rekindle the debate on how far Kenya’s agricultural policies truly support local farmers or whether imported food continues to undermine homegrown production.
