The anxiety that has gripped Mwea rice farmers for months has finally dissipated after the government released KES 200 million and confirmed the full purchase of all locally produced rice, averting a looming crisis in the country’s rice bowl.

During a high-level tour of the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Co-operative Society (MRGM), senior government officials led by Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director General Bruno Linyiru announced that the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) has stepped in to mop up the harvest. The state has set the buying price for paddy rice at a lucrative KES 90 per kilogram, a figure meant to cushion farmers against the high cost of production.

"Zero Carry-Over"

MRGM Managing Director Anthony Waweru confirmed that the payment crisis is over. "We have received the funds, and payment was done as agreed by KNTC," Waweru told the press. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-25)He highlighted a significant efficiency improvement: the cooperative carried over less than 1 percent of stock from 2025 into 2026, a stark contrast to the 30 percent glut seen in previous years. This "zero carry-over" means farmers are starting the new season with clean books and money in the bank.

• The Intervention: The KES 200 million is channeled through Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), ensuring that the money hits farmers' accounts directly and promptly.
• Import Court Battle: The news comes as the High Court directed state agencies to clear duty-free rice imports to avert a food crisis. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-27)Farmers had feared these imports would crash local prices, but Waweru dismissed these fears, stating, "Mwea rice is a niche, premium product. It does not compete with the cheaper imported varieties."

Food Security Win

With Kenya consuming approximately 1 million metric tonnes of rice annually against a local production of about 200,000 tonnes, the deficit is huge. However, supporting local farmers is critical for rural stability. By guaranteeing a market and a fixed price of KES 90/kg, the government is incentivizing production in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, which produces 80% of Kenya's rice.

For the farmers of Kirinyaga, the sight of empty stores and full bank accounts is the best start to 2026 they could have asked for.