Government Announces Macadamia Ban Lift, Tax Reforms, and an Agricultural Scam Alert - February 2026

Kenya's Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has lifted a seasonal ban on the harvesting and trading of macadamia nuts, effective February 1, 2026. The ban was implemented on December 1 of the previous year to ensure nut maturity. In other news, the government has introduced reforms in the Finance Bill 2026 aimed at resolving long-standing VAT refund delays, which will save agricultural exporters billions of shillings. Concurrently, the Ministry of Agriculture has warned Kenyans about fake social media accounts impersonating the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Authority (KALRO). KALRO explicitly stated it is not affiliated with nine such fraudulent accounts.