This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On May 13, 2020, the High Court of Kenya made a landmark ruling that has been hailed by environmental activists as a major victory for local farmers.
Greenpeace Africa has long advocated for the government to prioritize local farmers in the face of food insecurity, rather than relying on subsidized maize imports.
"Plans to import maize at a time when local farmers are struggling to cope with the challenges presented by floods, locust invasion, and Covid-19 was ill-advised," said Amos Wemanya, Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.
The court's decision to suspend the importation of four million bags of maize has given the government a second chance to reconsider its decision and prioritize local farmers.
According to Wemanya, cheap importation of subsidized maize into Kenya reduces the market for local maize, leaving many farmers and workers in the agricultural sector without a source of income.
Greenpeace Africa has called for policies that support local markets, build local food storage capacity, and improve local infrastructure to enable farmers to get their produce to local markets.
Justice Pauline Nyamweya issued the directive in a case challenging the National Treasury's decision to allow private millers to import dry maize.
