Conflicting High Court orders issued in Nairobi and Kerugoya over the clearance of 500,000 tonnes of duty-free rice at the Port of Mombasa have thrown the import process into confusion. On one hand, Nairobi High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye ordered the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to immediately release the rice into the country. On the other hand, the High Court in Kerugoya froze the clearance of the same consignment until next week. Justice Muriithi was not the first judge to issue restraining orders over the rice imports. He argued that the duty-free rice imports were intended to cushion Kenyans against drought and food shortages, particularly in ASAL regions.

Source: Standard Digital January 24, 2026 12:54 UTC