Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has directed AFA, KEPHIS, PCPB, and county governments to step up farmer outreach through radio programmes and field extension services.
He said the agencies must act at once to support growers as Kenya’s macadamia sector continues to lose Sh2.88 billion a year to rising pest attacks.
The directive issued on Friday is aimed at ensuring farmers receive faster, clearer guidance to protect crops and stabilise the struggling industry.
The CS instructed the agencies to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the frontline approach against pests, signalling a clear shift from heavy use of chemical pesticides.
He emphasised the need to reduce reliance on imported synthetic pesticides, noting that the country is currently consuming “over 20M kilograms annually,” a level he said is neither sustainable nor aligned with residue requirements of key export markets.
He directed the agencies to help farmers adopt safer, residue-compliant pest control options that meet global export standards.
According to KEPHIS, some of the common chemical pesticides have become ineffective and risk “surpassing international residue limits.”
Kagwe said protecting Kenya’s premium markets must be a cornerstone of the response.
In one of his strongest directives, the CS called for the restoration of Kenya’s pyrethrum value chain, stating that local processors such as PPCK must be empowered to offer “reliable, affordable pest control alternatives that protect both yields and market standards.”
He emphasised the strategic importance of shifting towards pyrethrum-based products, which PCPB has already committed to fast-tracking for approval “as long as they meet efficacy and safety requirements.”
The Pest Control Products Board, in response to the CS, outlined the emergency legal provision that allows the swift authorization of organic and pyrethrum-based pest control products.
PCPB confirmed that once PPCK and KEPHIS identify and define pest pressure in the field, the Board can “immediately approve emergency-use options, conduct local efficacy trials, determine scientific application rates, and work with county teams to sensitise farmers.”
He stressed that this accelerated approval pathway must be leveraged quickly to address the widespread infestation that has affected macadamia trees at flowering, nut formation, and husk maturation stages.
He highlighted reports from technical agencies that stink bugs “inject saliva into nuts during flowering,” nut borers “penetrate shells to feed on kernels,” lace bugs “attack the underside of leaves,” and moths “damage the fruit before the husk hardens.”
Rising temperatures have also led to the spread of thrips, causing significant losses by damaging flowers and reducing nut set.
These findings, the CS said, justify the multi-agency effort he has directed, insisting that farmers must receive timely, practical guidance on how to navigate the crisis without endangering their livelihoods or Kenya’s export position.
CS Kagwe also issued firm instructions on protecting PPCK’s intellectual property, warning that “any private company using PPCK’s scientific formulation data must pay for access or have their letters of access withdrawn immediately.”
He described IP protection as essential to ensuring fair competition and maintaining the integrity of Kenya’s emerging pyrethrum-based solutions.
With his directives, CS Kagwe signaled a decisive shift in how the country will confront agricultural pests, moving away from chemical dependency, fast-tracking safer alternatives, empowering local processors, and strengthening county-level farmer support systems.
The Ministry states these efforts are necessary to safeguard a crop that contributes significantly to farmer incomes and Kenya’s agricultural exports.
