The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted three 40-foot containers at the port of Mombasa, suspected of containing in-shell macadamia nuts. The containers, which were falsely declared as carrying tarpaulin, were seized based on intelligence gathered by KRA’s Customs and Border Control team.
The containers are currently being held at the customs warehouse at the port, pending a full inspection by a multi-agency team. The inspection aims to confirm whether the consignment indeed contains in-shell macadamia nuts, which are now prohibited from export under new government regulations.
This development follows a recent directive by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development banning the export of raw in-shell macadamia nuts. The move is part of efforts to protect Kenya’s local macadamia processing industry and improve the value chain by ensuring that value addition takes place within the country.
The ban was implemented to curb the long-standing issue of raw nut exports, which has hurt local processors and denied farmers better returns. By encouraging local processing, the government hopes to create more jobs, enhance earnings for farmers, and increase Kenya’s competitiveness in the global macadamia market.
KRA’s interception reflects a growing effort by enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with trade and agricultural policies. The Authority emphasized that it will continue to collaborate with other government departments to enforce the ban and prevent illegal exports that undermine local industries.
In recent years, Kenya has emerged as one of the world’s leading producers of macadamia nuts, but a significant portion of the crop has been exported in raw form to international markets, especially in Asia. This has limited the potential gains from value addition within the country.
The ongoing inspection of the containers in Mombasa is expected to set a precedent for stricter enforcement going forward. KRA has issued a stern warning to exporters and clearing agents against misdeclaration and attempts to flout the ban, stating that legal action will be taken against those found culpable.
