Kenyan authorities have deported eight macadamia cartels accused of exploiting farmers in the country.

On Wednesday, Simon Chelugui, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), stated in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, that the measure will assist macadamia producers in earning higher rates for their produce.

He said the cartels served as middlemen, purchasing the nuts from farmers at lower prices and preventing them from receiving better market pricing.

PHOTO | COURTESY  CS Chelugui

chelugui said they had had foreigners traversing the country and buying our farmers' macadamia, including the unripe ones. That is why when our farmers fail to get a market for their produce, they sell them at throwaway prices adding. That Those eight to nine people who were chased away last week have all been deported 

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CS Chelugui affirmed the Kenya Kwanza administration's commitment to eliminating brokers and cartels from the market to protect farmers from exploitation.

He claims the government will establish structures to empower farmers and protect the market through Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.

He stated that they want to recognise the macadamia, and I think the Agriculture Minister will be making some pronouncements on how we want to restore the prices of macadamia to where we were before

"The Ksh. 250 per kilo is a complete shame. We allowed this crop to be taken over by cartels who have been abusing farmers. The people have been eliminated, and we are coming up with a new and reorganised way of pricing and marketing macadamia." he added.