Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Paul Ronoh has said the proposed Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023 will pave the way for direct sale of tea, allowing factories and farmers to negotiate with buyers offering the highest prices.
Speaking during a tour of Tirgaga and Motigo factories under the management of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Dr. Ronoh said the Bill seeks to amend the current Tea Act to address long-standing challenges facing farmers under the auction system.
“For a long time, Kenyan tea has been sold through the Mombasa Tea Auction. While the auction has provided a market platform, it has also limited farmers, especially when there are direct buyers willing to pay better prices,” he said.
The PS explained that once passed, the Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023 will allow tea factories to package, brand and sell their tea directly to local and international clients based on negotiated agreements.
He said the reform is expected to increase competition, improve price discovery and enhance farmers’ earnings.
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Dr. Ronoh emphasized that even under the current framework, proceeds from tea sales through the auction must be remitted directly to factories to ensure farmers are paid promptly before any other operational expenses are settled.
He also addressed allegations of irregularities in foreign exchange handling by factories, warning that any scheme where proceeds are converted into foreign currency and exchange rates determined outside the law is illegal and will not be tolerated.
“The government is committed to transparency and accountability in the tea sector. Farmers must receive their full dues without manipulation,” he stated.
On quality control, the PS revealed that farmers have petitioned for the introduction of scientific tea tasting methods to replace the traditional manual system.
He announced that his ministry, in collaboration with the Tea Board of Kenya, plans to commission a scientific tea tasting mechanism in May to ensure objectivity and fairness in grading.
Dr. Ronoh reiterated that the Kenya Kwanza administration remains focused on reforming the tea subsector to uplift farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen Kenya’s position in the global tea market.
By Philip Koech
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