Kenya rice importers have been handed a huge advantage following the government’s approval for duty-free importation of 500,000 tonnes of white milled rice in an effort to stabilize supply and relax prices in the local market.
The directive was made through a gazette notice on Tuesday, July 29, to import rice duty-free until December 31, 2025.
The notice clarified that the tax exemption applies to grade 1 white milled rice and is intended to cushion consumers and reduce strain on dwindling local stocks.
The government cited provisions under the East African Community Customs Management Act of 2004 to justify the exemption.
“Pursuant to section 114(2) the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, on recommendation from the Agriculture Ministry, directs that 500,000 metric tonnes of Grade 1 milled white rice be imported into Kenya duty-free,” the gazette notice stated.This comes just weeks after the state announced it would cut rice imports by nearly half to protect local farmers a move that faced criticism from stakeholders who pointed out the country’s inability to meet demand through domestic production alone.
In fact, Kenya’s current rice deficit paints a stark picture. Although the demand has hit 100,000 tonnes per month, the country has only produced 191,000 tonnes of milled rice for the entire season 2024/2025.
The farmers, especially in Kirinyaga and neighboring counties, had advised the government to concentrate on producing locally first before importing. However, factors like inadequate irrigation, costly inputs, and cheaper foreign rice still continue to discourage production.
The duty-free clearance is reminiscent of a similar ruling in June, when the East African Community Council of Ministers gave Kenya permission to keep importing rice and wheat at preferential levels.
Wheat importers, for instance, were granted a reduced import tariff of 10% far below the standard 35% under the EAC Common External Tariff.
These steps, according to Treasury and Agriculture officials, are meant to balance support for local farmers with the urgent need to prevent food shortages especially as the cost of living remains high for many Kenyans.
Most of Kenya’s rice imports come from Asia. According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), India accounts for over 90% of Kenya’s rice imports, with Pakistan and Thailand also supplying a notable share.
As the duty-free rice imports roll out, stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the move brings real relief to households, while still leaving room for growth in the local farming sector.
