Drought and supply gaps fuel food crisis as court weighs fate of imports

In submissions before the High Court sitting in Kerugoya, State Counsel Samuel Kaumba, Erick Theuri and other government lawyers warned that blocking imports would exacerbate supply shortages and trigger sharp price increases, particularly for non-basmati long-grain rice. - Kenya..

✨ Key Highlights

Kenya is facing a severe food crisis due to prolonged drought and weak domestic rice production, with a crucial High Court ruling pending on duty-free rice imports. The government argues that blocking these imports would worsen supply shortages and significantly increase food prices, impacting millions already suffering from food insecurity.

Kenya consumes between 1.3 million and 1.5 million metric tonnes of rice annually, with domestic production accounting for less than 20 percent.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development projects a rice deficit of 381,225 metric tonnes by the end of January 2026.
Approximately 1.8 million people in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) were experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity by November 2025, a figure that could rise to 3.5 million without timely intervention.
The legal challenge, HCCHRPET/E009/2025, was filed by petitioners James Kamau Murango and David Munyi Mathenge against Gazette Notice No. 10353 of July 28, 2025.
Government lawyers State Counsel Samuel Kaumba and Erick Theuri warned that higher rice prices would disproportionately affect low-income households.