Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has kicked off a week-long mission in the United States to secure direct market access for Kenyan agricultural products.
On the first day, the delegation met with retail giant Walmart, which operates over 40,000 outlets across the U.S., to open doors for Kenyan tea, macadamia nuts, and other exports. MACNUT CEO Jane Maigua showcased Kenya’s macadamia as a premium product, naturally grown without chemicals, sourced from over 200,000 smallholder farmers, and enjoying a 10 percent duty compared to 30 percent for South African nuts.
She emphasized Kenya’s reliable supply capacity and globally renowned buttery taste profile, making it attractive for American buyers.
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) leaders Geoffrey Kirundi and Wilson Muthaura also pitched Kenya’s ability to package tea at source, ensuring freshness, traceability, and higher returns for farmers. Kenya, the world’s largest exporter of black tea, is pushing to expand exports of value-added varieties including green, orthodox, and purple tea—the latter a unique Kenyan innovation celebrated for its health benefits and premium pricing.
The mission will include engagements with the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the Governor of South Carolina, and private sector players. The delegation will also participate in the North America Tea Conference, which recognizes sustainable practices in the sector.
In South Carolina, CS Kagwe held talks with Milo’s Tea Company, the leading U.S. iced tea producer, accompanied by Phylis Kandie, Advisor to the President on Commodities Market Development, KTDA executives, Ketepa, and Kipchimchim Tea. The meeting explored ways to raise Kenya’s share of U.S. tea imports, which currently stand at just 2 percent.
The visit underscores Kenya’s push for direct-to-shelf exports, sustainable supply chains, and stronger farmer earnings.
