SMEs Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui on Wednesday, April 19, revealed that eight foreigners were quietly deported after being accused of conning macadamia farmers in Kenya.
While speaking in Kirinyaga County, the CS branded the foreigners as cartels who robbed macadamia farmers of their profits by buying the nuts at low prices.
"We deported about eight foreigners but I will not mention from which country. They were taking all the macadamia from our farmers at very low prices.
"We allowed the trade of this crop to be taken up by cartels who ended up abusing our farmers," Chelugui stated.
The deportation came days after Trade Cabinet Secretary exposed 40 companies shortchanging macadamia farmers. He also launched a crackdown to apprehend the culprits.
On Tuesday, April 11, Kuria exposed how the companies bought the nuts at Ksh20 per kilo and sold it at the international market for more.
Kuria suggested that farmers should get Ksh250 per kilo to help them boost their lives.
On his part, Chelugui emphasised that in liaison with the Ministry of Agriculture, the government was working on ensuring farmers are paid Ksh250 per kilo compared to the current Ksh20 paid by the cartels.
"We want to reorganize the macadamia industry and the CS for Agriculture will be making an announcement on how we plan to restore the industry," he explained.
"We are coming up with a new way of pricing and marketing macadamia," Chelugui assured.
One of the moves by the government to boost the farmer was to lift the ban on the exportation of raw macadamia nuts for one year to bring other buyers from across the world into the country.
"This will open the markets for competitiveness allowing farmers to sell to the highest buyers," CS Kuria stated.
Macadamia farming is beloved mostly by farmers in the Central region including Murang'a, Kiambu, Embu, and Meru counties.
