The High Court sitting in Kerugoya on Monday issued a conservatory order halting the importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of rice, pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed by the Farmers Party.
The order, issued by Justice Edward Muriithi, suspended the implementation of a decision by the directive issued by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and his Agriculture counterpart, Mutahi Kagwe, which was published in Gazette Notice No. 10353 on July 28, 2025.
According to the gazette notice, the Cabinet Secretary had approved the importation of the rice duty-free, a move that the Farmers Party is now challenging in court.
In its petition, the party sought to block the government from proceeding with the plan, arguing that the decision could have far-reaching consequences on local farmers and the agricultural sector.
