Kakuzi Plc Champions Collaboration to Boost Local Macadamia Consumption

Mr. Mathias Muinde addressing delegates during the ongoing National Macadamia Conference at Embu University, where he called all Macadamia value chain stakeholders to work together to at least double the local consumption of Kenyan-quality macadamia

Kenya’s largest single-estate macadamia grower, Kakuzi Plc, is calling for a unified effort among stakeholders to drive domestic consumption of macadamia products through value addition and innovation.Despite being the world’s third-largest exporter of macadamia after South Africa and Australia, Kenya consumes less than 5 percent of its 63,000 metric tons of annual production.

Speaking at the ongoing National Macadamia Conference at Embu University, Kakuzi’s General Manager for Macadamia Operations, Mr. Mathias Muinde, expressed concern over the low local uptake, which stands at under 3,000 metric tons. He urged processors, farmers, and marketers to work together to at least double domestic consumption.

“Kenyan macadamia competes globally, yet local consumption remains minimal. We need a joint approach to push consumption to 6,000 metric tons through innovative value-added products such as snacks, cold-pressed oils, gluten-free flour, and biomass fuels from shells,” he said.

Muinde also highlighted the importance of empowering smallholder farmers with agronomic knowledge and fostering stronger collaborations with industry leaders to improve quality and sustainability. He disclosed that Kakuzi is already expanding its product range, including cold-pressed oil, roasted nuts, flour, and activated charcoal, sparking interest from both local and international markets.

Organised by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), the three-day conference brings together over 1,000 delegates to explore macadamia’s economic potential. Themed “Empowering Kenya’s Macadamia Industry through Collaborations for Enhanced Value and Sustainability,” the event aims to showcase innovations in processing and production.

Kakuzi’s macadamia division, with a processing capacity of 2,000 tonnes of saleable kernel, supports over 1,200 jobs and maintains international traceability standards offering a model for other players in the sector.