Tea Board of Kenya - Sacco Review | The Leading Newspaper for Co-operative Movement in Kenya

Tea Board bust myths on levy, says unsold stock crisis is a market season problem

Sacco ReviewJune 12, 2026010 mins

Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) has issued a clarification addressing misinformation surrounding the newly introduced Tea Levy. TBK insists the levy is not responsible for unsold tea stocks in Mombasa, price fluctuations, or reduced global competitiveness. The board says no abnormal tea stockpile exists at the Mombasa auction. By Benedict Aoya The Tea Board of…

Parliament reopens Tea Amendment Bill scrutiny after conflict of interest ruling

Sacco ReviewJune 11, 202608 mins

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock has resumed fresh consideration of the Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023, after Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed a new review of the legislation following a conflict of interest complaint against a member of parliament. Wetang’ula’s ruling followed a complaint by Nyeri tea farmer Dr John Omanga, who questioned…

Gov’t pushes tea value addition as legislative setbacks stall reform agenda

Sacco ReviewJune 10, 202604 mins

The government is intensifying efforts to shift the tea industry from bulk exports of raw produce to higher‑value processed and branded products, even as political and legislative hurdles threaten to slow the pace of reform. Speaking at the China‑Africa Forum on Agritech and Industrial Cooperation in Nairobi, Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) Chief Executive Officer…

Tea industry in turmoil as levy triggers market collapse and unsold stock

Sacco ReviewJune 9, 202604 mins

Panic has gripped Kenya’s tea sector following the implementation of a Sh2.28 per kilogram levy at the Mombasa Tea Auction, with farmers and factories warning of reduced bonuses and mounting unsold stock. Producers in the Mt Kenya region say the levy has disrupted the market, forcing buyers to shift to cheaper alternatives from Burundi, Rwanda,…

Kirinyaga farmers reject proposed 8 pc tea levy, demand direct export access

Sacco ReviewJune 4, 202604 mins

Tea farmers in Kirinyaga County have come out strongly against a proposed levy by the Tea Board of Kenya, describing it as punitive and ill‑timed. At an emergency meeting, growers warned that the new charge would worsen their already fragile economic situation and erode Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets. The protest was led by John…

Gov’t unveils KSh3.5B tea reforms to modernize factories, cut costs and speed up farmer payments

Sacco ReviewDecember 22, 2025December 22, 202505 mins

The government has launched a Sh3.5 billion reform package for Kenya’s tea industry following an audit that exposed deep weaknesses in governance, financial management and operational efficiency across dozens of processing plants. The programme is designed to restore farmer confidence and raise earnings by modernizing 19 factories, lowering fertilizer costs and strengthening irrigation, with a…

Kenya, Iran form committee to lift Kenyan tea ban

Sacco ReviewAugust 12, 202503 mins

The government of Kenya and Iran have agreed to establish a joint committee tasked with eradicating trade obstacles within 60 days, paving the way for the lifting of the ban on Kenyan tea exports to Iran. The agreement was reached during the 7th Session of the Kenya-Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) held in Nairobi…