Waiguru Urges Gov’t to Shield Mwea Farmers as Duty-Free Rice Imports Flood Market

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called on the national government to protect local rice farmers from the growing threat posed by duty-free rice imports, warning that the influx of cheap foreign grain could cripple the livelihoods of Mwea producers

Speaking during her 2025 State of the County Address at the Kirinyaga County Assembly, Waiguru urged the government to prioritise Mwea farmers in the planned privatisation of the Mwea Rice Mills (MRM). She insisted that farmers must be granted the first right to buy government shares before any private investors

“When privatisation is being done, priority should be given to Mwea farmers to purchase those government shares before any other private individual,” she said

Waiguru also cautioned that Kenya’s ongoing rice deficit should not justify sidelining local producers

“Even when told that the rice grown in the country is not enough for all Kenyans, we should first prioritise the local farmers’ rice before importing rice,” she noted

Her remarks come amid mounting concern among rice growers following Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s directive allowing duty-free importation of Grade 1 rice until December 31, 2025

Local farmers say the move has already flooded the market, pushing down prices of homegrown rice just as the harvest season begins

Mwea Rice Growers Chairman Ndege Muriuki warned that the policy could devastate farmers

 Also read : Ruto’s Taskforce Defends Legality, Compassion Behind Protest Victims’ Compensation Plan

“One good thing about Pishori rice is that it has always had a ready market and fetched a fair price, but now, with imported rice entering duty-free, we fear that our local Basmati rice will remain unsold,” he said

“We are soon harvesting our main season crop, but may suffer huge losses even with bumper yields”

Waiguru urged the national government to purchase all locally produced rice before allowing imports, saying this would safeguard the Mwea Irrigation Scheme and ensure fair returns for farmers