The government has warned of a potential food crisis in the coming months due to critically low rice stocks, amid a court ruling which blocked the importation of 500,000 tonnes of rice.

In a replying affidavit submitted to the High Court, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe warned of devastating ripple effects if the government failed to secure a rice supply from abroad.

CS Kagwe revealed that local rice stocks were alarmingly low, standing at only 20,000 50kg bags.

This was drastically short of the projected demand of more than 350,000 bags, which are required to sustain key government institutions.