CS Mutahi Kagwe Dragged Into Multimillion Macadamia Export Fraud
The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), has disowned a letter circulating on social media falsely purporting to authorize the export of raw (in-shell) macadamia nuts. In a statement released on Sunday, May 25, 2025, the ministry confirmed the document is a forgery and not issued by any official authority, including Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe.
The disputed letter, dated May 21, 2025, fraudulently bears the name and signature of CS Kagwe, suggesting approval for raw macadamia exports. AFA clarified that the letter did not originate from the Ministry or the CS and emphasized that the longstanding ban on exporting raw macadamia remains in full effect.
“AFA affirms that the letter in question is a forgery and was not issued through any legitimate channel,” the Authority stated. It reaffirmed that under Section 43 of the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, 2013, the export ban is active, with no exemptions currently granted.
To address the matter, AFA has reported the forgery to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, requesting a formal investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for the document’s creation and distribution.
Stakeholders within the agricultural sector have been urged to exercise caution and avoid participating in or facilitating any illegal exports. The public has also been encouraged to report any suspicious activities to AFA or law enforcement authorities.
The Ministry reiterated that the export ban on raw macadamia is part of a broader policy to promote local processing and value addition, aimed at protecting Kenyan farmers and enhancing domestic agro-industrial capacity.
On April 12, 2025, CS Kagwe reaffirmed the government’s stance during a public address, stating, “We maintain that we do not want to export raw macadamia to China. So, even if they put tariffs or no tariffs, that does not matter to us. We want to do the processing in Kenya.”
He added that the government’s policy, supported by farmer advocacy, has led to increased local consumption and processing of macadamia products, including macadamia oil, which he described as “one of the best oils.”
As Kenya remains the world’s third-largest producer of macadamia nuts, behind South Africa and Australia, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to uphold policies that encourage local value addition. The forged document incident underscores the need for vigilance and integrity in safeguarding the agricultural sector from misinformation and fraud. Investigations into the forgery are ongoing.
Read Also: Gachagua Targets Musicians for Meeting Kindiki as MCSK Fires Back with Sanctions Threat
CS Mutahi Kagwe Dragged Into Multimillion Macadamia Export Fraud