tea exports - Sacco Review | The Leading Newspaper for Co-operative Movement in Kenya

Tea levy will not hurt farmers, Kagwe assures growers

Sacco ReviewAugust 8, 202603 mins

Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe says the proposed 0.8% tea levy will be paid by buyers, not farmers, and will not reduce grower earnings. The levy will support farmer payments, research, infrastructure and marketing as Kenya seeks to protect tea through a Geographical Indication. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has said the proposed 0.8% tea…

Agriculture drives Kenya’s economy as counties report record farm output

Sacco ReviewAugust 7, 202606 mins

Agriculture’s GDP share rose to 23.2 per cent, with output valued at Ksh 4.07 trillion. Horticulture, coffee, tea and milk posted strong growth, while wheat and sugarcane output declined. Counties want more funding for irrigation, mechanisation and value addition. Agriculture remained the backbone of Kenya’s economy in the last financial year, with the sector’s share…

Mombasa tea auction sales dip as new levy bite

Sacco ReviewJuly 29, 2026July 29, 202607 mins

Smallholder tea sales at the Mombasa Tea Auction fell to 128.6 million kg from 138.8 million kg a year earlier. Exporters blame the new Ksh 2.28 per kg tea levy for reducing demand from international buyers. TBK says the levy will fund tea price stabilisation, research and sector infrastructure. Smallholder tea factories sold 128,554,359kgs of…

Kagwe defends tea levy as government bets on value addition

Sacco ReviewJuly 24, 202607 mins

Kagwe defended the Tea Levy, saying it funds tea marketing, research and value addition, not farmers. Tea uptake has risen to 93 per cent, which he said disproves claims the levy has hurt sales. Gov’t handed over a Ksh360 million Sencha tea factory to Kangaita Tea Factory to boost value addition and farmer incomes. Agriculture…

Gov’t moves to revive tea sector as KTDA firms up fertiliser transport plan

Sacco ReviewJuly 23, 2026July 23, 202608 mins

Gov’t says reforms are underway to tackle high taxes, poor roads, pests, diseases and price volatility affecting tea farmers, while urging continued production. Mudavadi says Mudete Tea Factory serves about 12,000 farmers and has transformed livelihoods, as leaders call for more factories, lower taxes and better rural roads. KTDA has procured 99,000 metric tonnes of…

KTDA Chairman faults tea export levy as sales decline

Sacco ReviewJuly 22, 202603 mins

Tea farmers could receive lower bonuses due to weak export sales. KTDA blames the 0.8 per cent export levy for reducing demand for Kenyan tea. The agency wants the government to scrap the levy to protect farmers’ earnings. Tea farmers across the country could receive lower bonus payouts this year due to challenges affecting tea…

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…

Gov’t moves to dispel myths on proposed 0.8pc Tea Levy, assures farmers of protection

Sacco ReviewJune 1, 2026June 1, 202605 mins

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has moved to dispel growing concerns over the proposed tea levy, insisting that farmers will not bear the cost and that all proceeds will be reinvested directly into the industry. Under the draft framework, tea exports will attract a levy of 0.8 per cent of the auction value…