Kenya’s recent gazette notice approving the duty-free import of 500,000 tonnes of rice between August and December has ignited a fierce debate, with policymakers claiming it will stabilise local prices.
Yet, this assertion collapses under scrutiny. With annual rice imports nearing 1 million tonnes worth Sh160 billion, Kenya’s reliance on foreign rice strains foreign exchange reserves, currently at 4.4 months of import cover, and undermines local farmers.
