A coalition of economists, farmers, traders, and activists under the “Team EVOLVE” banner has issued a scathing condemnation of the Kenyan government’s latest move to allow 500,000 metric tonnes of duty-free rice into the country, warning the decision will crush local farmers, collapse small businesses, and severely undermine national food security. Led by economist Prof. Fred Ogolla, the group called for the immediate revocation of the Gazette Notice and urged President Ruto’s administration to invest instead in Kenya’s domestic agricultural capacity.

Kenya’s rice value chain stands on the brink of collapse following a government decision to allow a half-million metric tonnes of duty-free rice into the country—an act that economists and grassroots leaders warn could devastate livelihoods across key rice-growing regions.

Speaking to the media at the Kenya National Theatre, Prof. Fred Ogolla of the “Team EVOLVE” movement lambasted the Gazette Notice No. 10353 published on July 28, which authorizes duty-free rice imports until December 31, 2025. Citing what he termed as “deliberate sabotage” of Kenya’s food producers, Ogolla said the move would expose farmers in Mwea, Ahero, and Bura to unfair competition and financial ruin just as their harvesting season begins.

Kenya’s domestic rice consumption stands at nearly 1 million metric tonnes annually, but current local production only meets about 30 percent of that demand. According to Team EVOLVE, instead of stimulating local capacity to bridge the gap, the government has chosen an import-dependent approach that enriches politically connected cartels at the expense of taxpayers and rural farmers.

“Tanzania invested in its rice sector and now produces enough for both local use and export,” Ogolla said. “Kenya, on the other hand, continues to kneecap its farmers and subsidize foreign economies.”

The rice imports are being allowed duty-free, a move that eliminates up to 35% in import taxes previously applied to traders. This not only threatens Kenya’s tax base, especially at a time when citizens are grappling with increased income taxes and levies, but also undermines local businesses who cannot compete on price.

A similar quota announced in 2024 had little effect on rice prices, Ogolla noted, citing USDA data, proving that the real beneficiaries are elite brokers—not ordinary households.

Team EVOLVE is demanding the immediate cancellation of the Gazette Notice, the reinstatement of the 35% rice import duty, and increased public investment in Kenya’s rice infrastructure—including irrigation, milling, cooperatives, and agro-input supply. The group also called for transparency in government partnerships, criticizing what they termed as the monopolization of the rice sector in favour of Japan and a few unnamed actors.

Ogolla framed the issue not merely as an economic debate, but a matter of national sovereignty. “Food security is national security,” he said. “This is not just about rice—it’s about whether Kenyans will have the right to feed themselves or be forever dependent on foreign markets.”

He warned that more than 100,000 jobs are at risk along the rice value chain—from smallholder farmers and millers to transporters and retailers. If the import policy persists, Ogolla said, many of these livelihoods will vanish.

In a passionate appeal, he called upon religious leaders, civil society, farmers’ unions, and the media to rise in unified opposition, noting that the quiet death of a food system under unjust policies is just as lethal as any bullet.

Why this story matters to MNA:
This story strikes at the heart of MNA’s editorial mission: spotlighting unjust policies and amplifying the voices of ordinary Africans impacted by structural inequality. Kenya’s duty-free rice importation decision is not just about trade—it reveals deeper systemic failures in governance, food security, and economic justice. For a continent increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks, weakened agricultural systems, and foreign dependency, MNA recognizes the urgency of exposing policy choices that prioritize profits over people. By telling this story, MNA affirms its commitment to elevating African voices in pursuit of self-reliance and equity.