• Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu said the importation is aimed at averting an impending food crisis in the country occasioned by the ongoing drought.
• The confirmation of the maize imports comes even as farmers from maize-growing regions had expressed reservations.
Image: FILE
The government has said it will import 900,000 metric tonnes of duty-free maize from February next year.
In a gazette notice dated December 19, Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu said the government will also import 600,000 metric tonnes of rice.
He said the importation of two products is aimed at averting an impending food crisis in the country occasioned by the ongoing drought.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning directs that 900,000 metric tonnes of white maize grain and 600,000 metric tonnes of milled rice may be imported into the country duty-free from the 1st February 2023 to the 6th August, 2023," the notice reads in part.
The CS said the imported food products must meet the set health, quality and customs standards set by Kenyan laws.
"Aflatoxin levels shall not exceed ten (10) parts per billion as provided under the Laws of Kenya and Kenyan standards. It shall be accompanied by a certificate of conformity issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards."
Ndungu said the rice must be Grade 1 and free of undesirable odours, discolouration, abnormal flavours, microorganisms, fungi or other substances that may be hazardous to human health.
In late November, the Ministry of Agriculture distanced itself from the planned importation of 10 million tonnes of duty-free GMO maize announced by Trade CS Moses Kuria.
"We have not recommended the quantities of maize to be imported because we are yet to establish the actual deficit. Valuation is ongoing and we shall advise when to import the grains," CS Mithika Linturi said.
The confirmation of the maize imports comes even as farmers from maize-growing regions had expressed reservations.
They argued that maize imports should be halted until after the harvest season is over.
Led by MPs from the Rift Valley region, the farmers wanted the government to freeze the imports until April next year when a clear maize deficit would have been established.
“It seems there is a deliberate move to continue killing the maize farming in the country as was seen in the previous regime where even the sugar sector and other farming sectors were killed. It seems that cartels are now back into the business and this time round, they appear more aggressive and ruthless,” Nandi senator Samson Cherargei said.