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Kenya's macadamia crackdown: Why raw nut exports are now banned
Kenya's Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has reinforced a ban on the export and transit of all raw macadamia nuts, regardless of origin, through its ports and border points.
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has issued a new directive reinforcing the ban on the export and transit of raw macadamia nuts through Kenya’s ports and border points.
In a statement released on Friday, AFA Director General Dr. Bruno Linyiru said the crackdown is aimed at protecting Kenyan farmers and boosting local value addition.
The ban applies to all raw macadamia nuts, whether in-shell or shelled, wet or dry, regardless of their origin.
Dr Linyiru cautioned foreign exporters against using Kenyan ports to ship raw macadamia, urging them to seek alternative routes outside the country.
The directive comes after several interceptions of illegal macadamia consignments at various Kenyan border points in recent weeks.
According to AFA, the move is in line with the Crops Act, 2013, and the Crops (Nuts and Oil Crops) Regulations, 2020, which prohibit the export of raw nuts to promote domestic processing.
“No raw macadamia nuts may be exported through or from Kenya,” he reiterated. “This measure is necessary to safeguard the local processing industry, ensure fair returns for farmers, and support broader industrial development.”
Kenya ranks among the top global producers of macadamia nuts, with the industry providing a source of income for thousands of smallholder farmers.
The government hopes that stricter enforcement will help stabilise farm-gate prices and encourage investment in local processing facilities.
