MWEA, Kenya – Rice farmers from the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kirinyaga County have voiced strong opposition to the government’s recent directive allowing the importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of duty-free white rice by the end of this year.
The directive, issued through a gazette notice by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, permits the importation of Grade 1 milled white rice on or before December 31, 2025. Mbadi said the move followed recommendations by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.
But for Mwea farmers, the announcement has struck a nerve. They say the timing is insensitive, coming at a time when thousands of bags of locally grown rice remain unsold in their stores due to limited market access.
At the heart of their concerns is the fate of their recent bumper harvest, currently stored at the Mwea Rice Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (MRGM) stores.
Farmers say despite government promises to purchase over 50,000 bags of rice from the Mwariko stores, the grain still lies idle—compounding frustrations over delayed payments and unfulfilled pledges on subsidized farm inputs.
Kirinyaga Senator James Kamau Murango has thrown his weight behind the farmers, accusing the government of abandoning local producers while favoring foreign imports.
“Government said it will buy rice in Mwariko stores—over 50,000 bags. But farmers are still waiting for a May payout and they are yet to receive subsidized fertilizer for planting,” Murango said.
He added that efforts to get the government to act have so far been in vain.
“Two months ago I moved from one office to another, tirelessly pleading with officials to buy the 50,000 bags of rice in MRGM Mwariko stores. At the time, there were clear assurances of intervention—but now, 15,000 bags are still lying untouched,” he lamented.
The farmers are now urging the government to halt the planned imports until local stocks are purchased, citing past practices under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration where local produce was prioritized before any imports were considered.
With rice farming being a major economic lifeline in the region, the standoff threatens to escalate unless the government addresses the concerns of local growers—many of whom now fear financial losses if their produce remains unsold.
