NAIROBI, Kenya, May 30, 2025 — The government has set aside Sh500 million to purchase 5,000 metric tonnes of rice from farmers in Kirinyaga and neighbouring counties, offering relief to growers struggling with unsold stocks.
The intervention follows concerns raised by Mwea Irrigation Scheme farmers over the influx of imported rice, which they say has depressed local demand and prices.
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director General Bruno Linyiru announced the mop-up plan after a high-level meeting at the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society offices. He said the cooperative will receive full payment within one month of delivery — a marked improvement from previous delays that disrupted farmers’ operations and cash flow. This move follows farmers’ concerns regarding accumulating stocks even amid rice shortages in the country, Linyiru said.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe directed AFA to collaborate with the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to implement the exercise and ensure timely payments.Kenya produced about 191,000 metric tonnes of milled rice in the 2024/25 fiscal year — enough to meet consumption for only two months, against a national demand of roughly 100,000 tonnes per month.
Linyiru noted that since January, the country has imported just 94,000 tonnes of rice, underscoring the need for controlled importation to supplement local production of Kenya’s third most consumed cereal after maize and wheat.