Tea factories will now sell tea directly to international buyers without the use of intermediaries.
Speaking in Nyeri County, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe announced policy reforms that will allow the 142 tea factories across the country to sell tea directly to international buyers, effectively eliminating intermediaries.
CS Kagwe said the move will significantly improve farmer margins.
“Our core focus remains ensuring better returns for farmers, strengthening governance in the tea sub-sector, and promoting transparency in smallholder tea factories,” said CS Kagwe.
The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted plans to aggressively explore emerging international markets.
He revealed that he will lead high-level trade delegations, comprising representatives from the Tea Board of Kenya, Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA), and other stakeholders, to key markets including China, India, Russia, and the Middle East to promote Kenyan tea.
“These missions are aligned with Kenya’s Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy, Vision 2030, and the Tea Industry Global Marketing Strategy,” he noted.
In a major step toward revitalizing the sector, Kagwe also announced the launch of an orthodox tea auction window within the Integrated Tea Trading System (ITTS), scheduled to go live in June 2025.
Managed by EATTA in collaboration with the Tea Board of Kenya, the new auction will provide a dedicated global platform for the sale of Kenya’s orthodox teas, a premium variety increasingly in demand on the global market.
“This new approach will strengthen our distribution channels and support a shift from traditional Cut, Tear, and Curl (CTC) teas to more sustainable and high-value orthodox teas,” Kagwe added.
The CS made the announcements during International Tea Day celebrations held at Gitugi Tea Factory in Nyeri County. He was accompanied by Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy Mutai, Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Woman Representative Rahab Mukami, and Othaya MP Wambugu Wainaina.