Written by Lisa Murimi
China has confirmed the arrival of 54 tonnes of macadamia nuts from Kenya, igniting questions over how the shipment cleared a ban on raw nut exports.
The timing has raised eyebrows in Nairobi, with some industry insiders suggesting the deal could point to loopholes in Kenya’s enforcement of agricultural export laws.
Others hint at possible diplomatic arrangements, as Beijing remains one of Kenya’s largest trading partners and a major source of development loans.
The situation risks fueling debate over whether economic ties are influencing compliance with local regulations.
According to Chinese officials, the consignment took 30 days to reach Hunan Province and was purchased directly from an African supplier.
Du Xiaohui, Director-General of the Department of African Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the shipment was the first batch of nut products from Africa to the province this year and that total imports could hit 2,000 tonnes in 2025.
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) stated on July 18 that exporting raw macadamia nuts is prohibited under the Crops Act, 2013, and the Crops (Nuts and Oil Crops) Regulations, 2020.
The ban is meant to protect local processors, boost value addition, and create jobs. AFA also reported intercepting several illegal shipments at the borders in recent weeks.
On social media, Kenyans demanded answers. “How is this possible when they were prohibited?” one user asked. Another wrote, “The macadamia purchases in Kenya are closed. How did you source them?”
Possible explanations include that the nuts were exported before the enforcement notice, processed in a neighboring country, or reclassified under different customs codes. For now, both AFA and the Kenyan government remain silent, leaving the controversy to grow.
