NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyans may soon enjoy lower rice prices after the government approved the duty-free importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of white milled rice to cushion the country from an ongoing supply shortfall and rising consumer demand.
In a gazette notice issued Tuesday, July 29, the National Treasury said no import duties will be levied on the rice consignments brought into the country between now and December 31, 2025.
The directive, issued under the East African Community (EAC) Customs Management Act of 2004, follows a recommendation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
“The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, upon recommendation by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, directs that 500,000 metric tonnes of Grade 1 milled white rice be imported into Kenya duty-free on or before December 31, 2025,” the notice read.
The move signals a reversal in policy just weeks after the government announced plans to cut back on rice imports to protect domestic producers—a strategy that drew criticism from sector stakeholders, citing Kenya’s deepening deficit in local supply.
As of June 2025, national rice consumption was estimated at 100,000 tonnes per month, while local production for the entire 2024/2025 season was only 191,000 tonnes—falling far short of demand.
Despite pleas from more than 8,500 rice farmers in Kirinyaga and other growing regions for increased support and investment in irrigation and inputs, officials say the gap has forced the country’s hand.
Kenya’s rice sector continues to face hurdles, including outdated irrigation systems, high production costs, and stiff competition from cheaper imports, primarily from Asia.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, over 90 percent of Kenya’s imported rice comes from India, followed by Pakistan and Thailand.
The new policy mirrors similar interventions by the government earlier this year, when it secured approval from the EAC Council of Ministers to continue importing rice and wheat at reduced tax rates.
Wheat imports, for instance, were granted a 10 percent tariff—down from the standard 35 percent under the EAC Common External Tariff (CET).
