Kenya Moves to Protect Macadamia Sector as Pests Cause Annual Losses of KSh 2.88 Billion

 The Kenyan government has taken decisive steps to safeguard the country’s macadamia sector, which suffers annual losses estimated at KSh 2.88 billion due to pests and ineffective pesticide use.

Speaking during a high-level meeting with key stakeholders, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, directed government agencies and county authorities to intensify efforts to protect farmers and the nation’s premium export markets.

According to Jane Maigua, Chairperson of Macadamia by MacNuts, destructive pests are attacking flowering nuts, boring into kernels, damaging leaves, and causing widespread premature nut drop. Kenya produces 45,000 metric tons of macadamia annually, of which 44,100 MT is marketable, yet 17,640 MT—including 2,222.64 MT of exportable kernels—is lost to insect damage. The losses, she noted, are compounded by increased labor and electricity costs at processing facilities as workers sort out damaged nuts.

KEPHIS (Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service) identified stink bugs as the most destructive pests, followed by nut borers, lace bugs, moths, thrips, and rats. Stink bugs inject saliva into nuts, causing internal damage and discoloration, while nut borers feed inside kernels. Lace bugs attack leaves, moths damage fruit before husks harden, and thrips reduce flower set—problems exacerbated by rising temperatures linked to climate change.

“Climate change has intensified pest attacks, rendering many chemical pesticides ineffective and increasing the risk of exceeding international residue limits,” noted KEPHIS officials.

In response, the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) outlined an emergency provision that allows the rapid authorization of organic and pyrethrum-based pest control products. Once PPCK and KEPHIS identify pest pressures, PCPB can approve emergency-use options, conduct local efficacy trials, determine application rates, and train farmers to ensure residue-compliant usage.

CS Kagwe instructed AFA Kenya, KEPHIS, PCPB, and county governments to:

• Intensify farmer education through radio and field extension services

• Promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices

• Reduce reliance on imported synthetic pesticides, which now exceed 20 million kilograms annually

• Adopt safer, residue-compliant pest control solutions to protect Kenya’s export markets

He further emphasized the importance of reviving the pyrethrum value chain, enabling local farmers and processors, including Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PPCK), to provide reliable, affordable pest control alternatives.

CS Kagwe also issued directives to safeguard PPCK’s intellectual property, noting that any private company wishing to use PPCK’s scientific formulations must pay for access. Unauthorized use will result in immediate withdrawal of access.“PPCK’s scientific data is a valuable national asset and a potential revenue stream. Protecting it is crucial as we strengthen domestic pesticide solutions and secure the future of our macadamia sector,” CS Kagwe stated.