Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mutahi Kagwe has asked macadamia processors to buy all locally produced nuts at the government-set minimum price of Ksh100 per kilo or risk reopening raw in-shell exports.

Speaking in Nyeri on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Kagwe said brokers exploiting farmers by buying macadamia at as low as Ksh30 per kilo will not be tolerated. He urged processors to absorb all produce to protect local value addition, jobs, and fair farmer returns.

The former senator also announced a major coffee recovery programme targeting an increase in production from 49,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes through the distribution of one million coffee seedlings in Nyeri and 10,000 seedlings for top-performing factories in every county.

Boost for farmers

Gachatha Coffee Factory, which paid farmers Ksh155 per kilo, was awarded 200,000 seedlings worth over Ksh12 million for its strong performance.

On factory debts, CS Kagwe warned against reckless borrowing by tea and coffee factories, saying the government cannot continue writing off debts without accountability. Factories seeking loans must now present clear business plans.

Meanwhile, in a major boost for Nyeri, Governor Mutahi Kahiga allocated 20 acres to KALRO for the county’s first-ever agricultural research station, alongside land for the Kenya School of Agriculture and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS).

Kagwe said the new research hub will strengthen crop and livestock innovation, improve productivity, and support Kenya’s long-term food security.