Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u has officially gazetted the duty-free importation of sugar, maize, and rice.
In a gazette notice dated December 23, 2022, the CS explained that this was due to the country’s current sugar crisis and impending food crisis.
The government intends to import 900,000 tons of white maize grain, 600,000 tons of milled rice, and 100,000 tons of sugar.
“In light of the notification of the current sugar crisis in the country by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning directs that 100,000 metric tonnes of brown or mill white sugar may be imported into the country duty-free not later than the 31st March 2023,” the gazette notice reads in part.
“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 August, 62023,” the notice adds.
To be considered safe, imported white maize must meet the following requirements: it must have a moisture content that does not exceed 13.5% as permitted by Kenyan law, aflatoxin levels that do not exceed ten (10) parts per billion, be accompanied by a certificate of conformity issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, and be imported by August 6th, 2023.
Imported milled rice must be Grade 1 and meet the following general conditions or restrictions, as determined by the applicable standard: It must be dried mature grains of edible Oryza spp., clean, wholesome, and uniform in size, color, and shape, and safe and suitable for human consumption.
The rice must also be free of offensive flavors, musty, sour, or other unpleasant odors, obnoxious odor, and discoloration; it must also be free of microorganisms and substances derived from microorganisms, fungi, or other poisons or deleterious substances in amounts that could endanger human health.
