Kenyan tea farmers are set to access high‑value international buyers following the signing of a landmark export and promotional agreement between French tea company Palais des Thés, Gatanga Industries Limited, and Equity Group Holdings Plc. The deal was signed in Nairobi on the sidelines of the Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit, witnessed by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the agreement, Palais des Thés will purchase and promote Kenyan tea, including Purple White, Purple Golden, Purple Simba, and Purple Black varieties through its global retail and educational platforms.
Equity Group facilitated the collaboration under its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), which focuses on expanding trade opportunities, promoting value addition, and integrating African producers into global supply chains. Equity Group CEO James Mwangi said the initiative would transform livelihoods by ensuring farmers are not only producers but active participants in global value chains. “By linking small‑scale tea farmers to premium global buyers, we are expanding market access and ensuring that value addition begins at the source,” Mwangi said.
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The agreement places renewed focus on Kenya’s growing speciality tea sector, particularly purple tea, an indigenous variety developed by the Tea Research Institute of Kenya. Purple tea has attracted international attention for its high antioxidant content, distinct flavour profile, and appeal among health‑conscious consumers seeking premium products.
Palais des Thés founder and CEO François‑Xavier Delmas said the company intends to position Kenyan purple tea as a premium global product. “Kenyan purple tea is not only an exceptional product in terms of quality but also a compelling expression of origin, climate, and craftsmanship. Our role goes beyond procurement; it is about elevating its story on the global stage,” Delmas noted.
Gatanga Industries chairman Karanja Kinyanjui described the agreement as a breakthrough for farmers who have long lacked access to international buyers that fully appreciate the value of their crop. “For a long time, our farmers have been growing a unique product without clear access to premium markets. This agreement changes that and tells the farmer that what they grow belongs in the highest‑value markets,” he said.
Tea remains one of Kenya’s leading foreign exchange earners and a major source of livelihood for millions of households in rural highland regions. Stakeholders believe the new partnership could encourage a gradual shift from bulk tea exports to higher‑value speciality production, enabling farmers to earn more from smaller, premium‑focused volumes.
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The deal also strengthens trade ties between Kenya and France at a time when both countries are seeking deeper economic cooperation through the Africa Forward Summit. The partnership is expected to open new opportunities for smallholder farmers by linking them directly to premium tea markets in Europe and beyond.
By Masaki Enock
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