Kerugoya court issues conservatory orders stopping rice importation

Justice Edward Muriithi certified Senator Kamau Murango’s application for conservatory orders as urgent.

The matter came up on Tuesday for directions on the Notice of Motion dated July 20, 2026.

In his orders, the Judge directed that the application be served on the respondents for hearing/directions on July 28, 2026 at 2:30 pm and in the meantime maintained the status quo obtaining before the impugned gazette notice No.10061 of 6th July 2026 for seven (7) days only

A penal notice was attached, warning that any disobedience will result in penal consequences.

The impugned gazette notice No.10061 dated July 6, 2026 was issued by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi upon recommendation of Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe

In exercise of powers conferred by Section 114 (2) of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, the notice authorized the importation of 490,000 metric tonnes of Grade 1 Milled White Rice duty-free on or before November 30, 2026.

The government argued the window was necessary to supplement local production due to shortages caused by increased cost of production and adverse weather, noting Kenya's annual demand is about 1.3 million MT against domestic production of only about 20%.

The notice requires that each consignment be in accordance with international and Kenyan standards and be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

However, farmers from Mwea, Ahero, Bunyala and West Kano have challenged the move, arguing it was introduced without public participation or economic impact assessment, and that it will flood the market with cheap imports, depress farm-gate prices and hurt over 8,500 farmers who still hold unsold stocks. 

This is not the first time the program has faced legal headwinds. A similar 2025 notice for 500,000 tonnes was challenged and the Kerugoya High Court later capped the imports at 250,000 tonnes.