The High Court has mandated the Kenyan government to submit a comprehensive report on the importation of 490,000 tonnes of duty-free rice, authorized under a Gazette Notice issued in July 2026.

The report, to be filed within 30 days, must include:

  • The quantity of rice imported and cleared to date;
  • The remaining balance of the authorized quota;
  • Details of customs entries lodged but not yet completed;
  • Status updates on those pending entries.

The court also instructed the government to continue processing applications and approvals related to the importation and clearance of rice consignments within the unused quota.

This directive follows a petition by the Ahero Rice Farmers Association, which represents over 1,500 rice farmers from various regions including Ahero, Mwea, and Taita Taveta. The association challenged the government's lack of transparency and consultation in issuing the Gazette Notice, citing constitutional principles on public participation and good governance.

The farmers supported the goal of enhancing food security through imports but emphasized the need for accountability and adherence to the set quota to protect local producers’ livelihoods. They raised concerns that unchecked imports during local surpluses could undermine farm-gate prices and lead to losses for farmers who have invested heavily in production.

Additionally, the association criticized the government for not disclosing crucial economic assessments, market analyses, and stakeholder consultations that justified the duty-free import decision. They argue that this opacity denies the public the ability to evaluate whether the policy was evidence-based and lawful.

Separately, another petition filed in Nairobi by Soufianne Bakkal echoes calls for transparency, highlighting that the absence of disclosed data violates principles of fair administrative action and good governance.

The High Court’s order aims to ensure the programme is implemented openly and fairly, safeguarding public revenue and supporting sustainable growth in the rice sector.