A worker plucking tea at a farm-Photo|Courtesy

Tea farmers await KTDA second bonus payment for 2025/26

Factory directors are set to review the year’s tea earnings before announcing the payout Farmers are bracing for a bonus shaped by market disruptions and rising costs Last year’s top-paying factories set a benchmark that growers will be watching closely The tea farmers expect their directors to declare bonus payments for the year 2025/2026, after…

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Packed tea ready for dispatch to the Mombasa auction. Photo/courtesy

Tea smallholders earn Sh914m at Mombasa auction

KTDA tea factories secure strong returns at the Mombasa auction Farmers benefit as tea prices remain firm amid reduced volumes Fertiliser availability raises hopes for improved production next year Tea smallholders under the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) earned Ksh 914,424,196.14 at the Mombasa auction this week. The factories sold 2,596,542 kg of tea at…

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AfDB headquarter in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire./ Courtesy

BDO India, EACREEE win AfDB deal for KTDA energy study

AfDB awards a clean energy feasibility study contract for KTDA facilities. The six month study will assess viable renewable energy options. BDO India and EACREEE won the contract through competitive bidding. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has awarded a consultancy contract to BDO India Services Private Limited, working in consortium with the East Africa Centre…

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Packed tea ready for dispatch to the Mombasa auction. Photo/courtesy

Smallholder tea farmers net Ksh 906 million at auction

Smallholder tea factories earned Ksh 906.8 million at the Mombasa auction. Githongo Tea Factory topped prices at Ksh 670.8 per kg. East of Rift teas outperformed West of Rift offerings. Smallholder tea factories earned Ksh 906,842,793.90 last week after auctioning 2,537,830 kg of made tea through the Mombasa Tea Auction. Githongo Tea Factory in Meru…

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KTDA national chairman Enos Njeru.

KTDA dismisses claims tying factory loans to bonuses

KTDA chairman Enos Njeru rejects claims that factory loans are used to finance farmer bonuses. He says borrowing varies by factory and can fund machinery, operations and expansion. Njeru also called for patience as the DCI investigates the Ksh322 million fertiliser transaction. Tea factories that borrow money are not necessarily taking loans to finance bonuses…

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Tea farmers defy national strike as they proceed with daily chores

Mt Kenya tea farmers continue plucking despite planned strike Farmers demand clarity on factory loans and sector finances KTDA says factories reported normal tea harvesting operations Tea farmers in the Mt Kenya region proceeded with plucking their green leaf, ignoring the planned countrywide presentation of a petition castigating unexplained loans. The farmers said the matter…

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Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe speaking at Kapsara Tea Factory in Trans Nzoia County.-Photo/courtesy

CS Kagwe orders tea factories to reject poor quality leaf

Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe has ordered tea factories to reject poor quality green leaf that does not meet the two leaves and a bud standard. The government has allocated Ksh 7.1 billion to modernise tea factories, with Ksh 44.6 million going to Kapsara Tea Factory for a new withering plant. Kagwe said improving leaf quality,…

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Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe-Photo|Courtesy

Kagwe defends Tea Levy as strategic investment to safeguard Kenya’s global market

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has defended the Tea Levy Regulations 2026, describing the measure as a strategic investment aimed at securing the long‑term competitiveness of Kenya’s tea industry. Speaking on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Kagwe said the levy is not intended to burden farmers or businesses but to ensure that proceeds from tea exports…

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