The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has defended the Government’s move to import 500,000 metric tonnes of duty-free Grade 1 milled white rice, calling it a vital intervention to avert an imminent food crisis in the country.
In a press release dated July 31, 2025, AFA Director General Beatrice Nyamwamu Linyiru stated that the decision, published under Gazette Notice No. 10353 on July 28, was backed by Memorandum CAB(25)90 as a strategic response to address Kenya’s widening rice supply gap.
“Kenya currently consumes about 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice annually, but local production only accounts for 264,000 metric tonnes barely 20% of our national demand,” Linyiru said.
He warned that failure to act on the growing shortfall would have triggered a chain of negative consequences, including food scarcity and a sharp rise in the prices of rice and other staples like maize flour and wheat products. “This would create a domino effect on the cost of living and place an unsustainable burden on millions of Kenyan households,” he added.
The AFA boss emphasized that the duty-free imports are a short-term response to stabilize prices and ensure rice remains affordable, especially for low-income households. He also noted that the Government has safeguarded local farmers’ interests through continued procurement of locally milled rice via the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC).
“To further protect consumers, only Grade 1 milled white rice that meets Kenyan and international safety standards will be allowed into the market,” Linyiru confirmed.
Kenya’s rice production has seen steady growth from 122,045 metric tonnes in 2022 to 191,067.5 in 2024 but imports remain crucial. In 2024, local production met only 20.47% of the country’s demand, highlighting the ongoing reliance on external sources.
Linyiru concluded by affirming the government’s commitment to food security and economic resilience amid global supply chain uncertainties.
