Omtatah Stands His Ground: Accuses BBS Mall Owner of Leading Rice Import Cartel, Threatening Kenyan Farmers

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has doubled down on his accusations that the owner of Business Bay Square (BBS) Mall is at the helm of a rice import cartel undermining the livelihoods of Kenyan farmers.

The outspoken lawmaker, known for his relentless advocacy for public interest, made the claims in a series of posts on X today, igniting fresh controversy over the government’s recent decision to allow 500,000 tonnes of duty-free rice imports from India and Pakistan.

The government announced the import quota on August 18, 2025, as a measure to stabilize rice prices amid a growing demand-supply gap.

Domestic production meets only about 20% of the country’s annual needs, according to Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

However, Omtatah and local farmers argue that the move has flooded the market with cheaper foreign rice, leaving local harvests unsold and threatening the agricultural sector.

In a fiery X post, Omtatah declared, “Parliamentary privilege is not for sale. I will not be gagged for demanding answers on the 500,000 tonnes of duty-free rice imports that threaten Kenyan farmers. Kenya will not kneel to cartels. This is a battle between cartels and Kenyans. I choose Kenyans.”

He attached a demand letter from prominent lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, representing BBS Mall, which threatens legal action unless Omtatah retracts his Senate statements linking the mall’s ownership to the import deal.

The letter, dated August 23, 2025, accuses Omtatah of defamatory remarks made during a Senate session on July 31, 2025, where he questioned the legality and transparency of the rice import allocation to a private entity.

Abdullahi’s correspondence demands a retraction and an apology, warning of potential lawsuits if the senator persists.

Undeterred, Omtatah responded with a defiant letter, dismissing the threats and reaffirming his commitment to exposing what he calls a cartel exploiting farmers, consumers, and the public purse.

The dispute traces back to Omtatah’s request for a Senate statement on July 9, 2025, where he raised concerns about bypassing regulatory bodies like the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA), which is mandated under the Crops Act to oversee food import decisions.

He alleges that the deal favors BBS Mall’s ownership, a claim the mall’s legal team vehemently denies. “For the record, we state expressly that our client was never allocated any quota to import rice,” Abdullahi’s letter asserts, labeling Omtatah’s statements as baseless and misleading.

Local farmers have rallied behind Omtatah, with groups in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, reporting unsold stocks amid the influx of imported rice.

The issue echoes past controversies, including a 2022 operation by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, which seized 10,000 bags of counterfeit rice worth Ksh 40 million in Mombasa, exposing the pervasive influence of rice cartels.

Omtatah’s stance also aligns with his 2023 campaign against sugar mill zoning, where he successfully fought for farmers’ rights to sell their produce freely.

As the standoff escalates, Omtatah has vowed to press on, framing his fight as a broader struggle for Kenyan sovereignty against vested interests. “If you think threats will work, bring it on. Aluta continua!” he wrote on X, earning widespread support from citizens and activists online.

The Senate is expected to deliberate further on the matter, with Omtatah urging the Agriculture Committee to investigate the import deal’s beneficiaries.

The government, through CS Kagwe, has defended the imports as essential to avert a food crisis, citing a deficit of about 1 million metric tonnes annually.

However, critics argue that without robust safeguards, such policies risk entrenching cartels and disenfranchising local growers. As legal and political battles loom, the outcome could reshape Kenya’s rice trade and the future of its farming community.