Gov’t wants orders suspending importation of edible oils lifted, argues Ksh.17B could be lost

The government has asked the court to lift orders that suspended the decision to import 125,000 metric tonnes of duty free edible oils.

According to lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, representing the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), some goods will perish or expire if they continue staying in the warehouse.

The Senior Counsel said that the State is at risk of losing Ksh.17 billion in the next 6 months if the court does not set aside the orders.

During the hearing of the matter on Wednesday, Ahmednasir told Justice John Chigiti that the case by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has been made in bad faith.

He questioned why the lawyers’ body hand-picked cooking oil and left out other products like wheat, rice, sugar and beans, which were also part of the February circular by the government.

In its defence, LSK submitted that it isolated rice, sugar, wheat and beans because the kind of impact it will have to local manufacturers is huge.

LSK argued that the duty-free importation into the Kenyan market will drive edible oil manufacturers in Kenya out of business.

The society also faults the government for taking administrative actions and decisions without consulting or involving the local edible oil manufacturers in Kenya, who it says have the requisite capacity to supply the product locally.

Justice Chigiti will deliver a ruling on September 1, 2023 to determine whether the orders will be set aside or not.