The High Court is preparing to hear a significant petition questioning the branding of several rice products labeled as ‘pishori.’ The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has filed the case against the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), urging the agency to enforce proper rice branding standards.
COFEK initiated the petition at Milimani High Court, seeking to compel KEBS to fulfill its constitutional and statutory duties regarding rice classification. The lobby group argues that inaccurate branding misleads consumers and harms local farmers.
According to court documents, the petition was filed under certificate of urgency but the presiding judge, Justice Patricia Mande Nyaundi, declined to certify it as urgent. Instead, she dispensed with the initial motion hearing, allowing the case to proceed directly to the main petition hearing.
The court ordered COFEK to serve the petition to the State Law Office and KEBS within seven days. The respondents will have 14 days to respond, after which COFEK may submit additional affidavits to strengthen its case. The matter is scheduled for mention on September 30, 2026, to confirm compliance and set further directions.
This legal challenge arises amid heightened concerns over substandard food products and regulatory efforts to control imports. Recent government actions include suspending new sugar import permits and freezing duty-free rice allocations. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intensified border audits to curb unregulated imports that undermine local producers and consumer safety.
Key Points:
- COFEK contests the misuse of the ‘pishori’ label on various rice brands.
- The petition names the State Law Office and KEBS as respondents.
- Justice Mande allowed direct hearing of the main petition, bypassing preliminary motions.
- The case highlights ongoing efforts to protect Kenyan consumers and farmers from misleading food branding and substandard imports.
- Scheduled mention date is September 30, 2026.
