Kenyan Courts Rule on Presidential Offices and Rice Imports; LSK Petitioned Over Drug Case Centralization - February 2026

The High Court in Kenya rejected an application to suspend a previous judgment that had nullified the creation of presidential advisory offices, with Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruling the request was res judicata. In a separate case, the High Court compelled the Kenyan government to purchase all locally produced rice nationwide before allowing further duty-free imports. This ruling, in response to a petition by Senator Kamau Murango and Representative David Mathenge, mandates a 30-day "mop-up" operation. Additionally, an advocate has petitioned the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to challenge a directive by Chief Justice Martha Koome that centralized drug cases to just four courts, arguing it limits access to justice.