The government now claims that blocking duty-free rice imports would worsen Kenya’s looming food crisis, with national stocks projected to run out by the end of this month leaving over 3.5 million people at risk of hunger if emergency measures are halted by the courts.
Court documents filed by the Ministry of Agriculture and other state agencies reveal an urgent need for approximately 750,000 tonnes of rice between January and June 2026, while only 110,000 tonnes remain in reserves. Officials argue this shortfall cannot be addressed through local production alone.
