The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced that the harvesting and trading of macadamia nuts will resume on February 1, 2026, following a two-month seasonal closure.
The closure, which began on December 1, 2025, was imposed to safeguard nut quality, oil content, shelf life, and to protect Kenya’s reputation in premium international macadamia markets.
In a statement on Thursday, January 29, 2026, AFA Director General Bruno Linyiru said the authority continued to monitor crop maturity and enforce compliance during the closure, especially in areas where violations had been reported.
AFA conducted macadamia maturity surveillance from January 19 to 23, 2026. The exercise found that nuts in lower-altitude coffee-growing zones had reached physiological maturity, with some naturally dropping to the ground, ready for collection and home drying. Meanwhile, nuts in higher-altitude tea-growing areas were still largely immature.
Linyiru noted that maturity periods also vary by variety, emphasizing the importance of timing in harvesting.
“The Authority appreciates the cooperation shown by stakeholders and remains committed to sustainable production, quality assurance, and continued market access for Kenyan macadamia nuts,” said Linyiru.
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