Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen.Mutahi Kagwe has revealed imminent policy reforms that will allow all the 142 tea factories across the country to sell directly to international buyers, eliminating the need for intermediaries,a move expected to significantly improve farmers’ profit margins.
“Our core focus remains ensuring better returns for farmers, strengthening governance in the tea sub-sector, and promoting transparency in smallholder tea factories,” he said.
Kagwe stated that the ministry of Agriculture is intensifying efforts to penetrate emerging international markets. He has revealed plans to lead high-level delegations—including the Tea Board of Kenya, Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), EATTA, and other stakeholders—to key destinations such as China, India, Russia, and the Middle East to promote Kenya’s “Green Gold.”
“These missions align with Kenya’s Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy, Vision 2030, and the Tea Industry Global Marketing Strategy,” the CS stated.
In a major step towards revitalizing Kenya’s tea industry, the CS has announced the launch of an orthodox tea auction window within the Integrated Tea Trading System (ITTS), set for June 2025. The initiative is part of a broader government strategy to diversify tea exports and boost farmer earnings.
Speaking during International Tea Day celebrations at Gitugi Tea Factory in Nyeri county , Sen. Kagwe emphasized that the new auction, to be managed by the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) in collaboration with the Tea Board of Kenya, will offer a dedicated global platform for the sale of Kenya’s orthodox teas—an increasingly sought-after variety in international markets.
“This new approach will strengthen our distribution channels and support a shift from the traditional Cut, Tear, and Curl (CTC) teas to more sustainable and premium orthodox teas,” Kagwe said.
CS Kagwe was accompanied by the Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy Mutai and county leaders among them Senator Wahome Wamatinga, woman Representative Rahab Mukami and Othaya Mp Wambugu Wainana.
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