Court gives State 7 days to account for duty-free rice imports

The court said the disclosures should include the quantities allocated, imported and cleared under the programme, customs entry numbers, import permits issued, duty exemptions granted and the criteria used to allocate import quotas...

✨ Key Highlights

The High Court in Kisumu has ordered top government officials to account for Kenya’s duty-free rice importation program within seven days after Ahero rice farmers challenged the policy.

This order concerns the duty-free importation of 490,000 metric tonnes of Grade 1 milled white rice.
The court directed the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to respond.
The Ahero Rice Farmers Association filed the petition, seeking transparency and accountability in the program's implementation and allocation of quotas, citing lack of public participation.