Tea pluckers in a tea farm.
Tea pluckers in a tea farm. Stakeholders in Kenya’s tea and coffee cooperatives have pledged to take the fight against child labour to grassroots communities

Cooperatives unite against child labour in Tea, Coffee sectors

Stakeholders in Kenya’s tea and coffee cooperatives have pledged to take the fight against child labour to grassroots communities, in a renewed push to boost farmer incomes and protect children across agricultural value chains. The commitment follows a 12-day Training of Trainers on Cooperative Development Tools, where participants resolved to cascade knowledge to farmers and…

Read More
Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe speaking in Embu. Photo Courtesy

Kenya tea earns Ksh218.78B in 2025 exports as market, volumes grow amid global disruptions

Kenya’s tea industry has recorded a strong recovery, posting Ksh 218.79Billion in total marketed value in 2025, driven by reforms, market expansion, and a renewed focus on higher farmer earnings and global competitiveness. Speaking at Rukuriri Tea Factory in Embu County during the release of the 2025 Tea Industry Performance Report, the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary…

Read More
CS Mutahi during consultative meeting with KTDA Holdings Limited and the Tea Board of Kenya. Photo Courtesy

Kagwe urges tea stakeholders to seek new markets amid global trade shocks

The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe has called for urgent reforms in Kenya’s tea sector to help it withstand global economic shocks and secure the livelihoods of farmers. Speaking during a high level consultative meeting with KTDA Holdings Limited and the Tea Board of Kenya, the CS warned that external geopolitical…

Read More
Tea farmers in their farm/Photo File

Govt outlaws use of tea farmers’ funds as loan collateral

The government has outlawed the use of tea farmers’ funds as collateral for bank loans, a move officials say will shield farmers from financial exposure and curb profiteering within factory management. The directive forms part of the reforms targeting the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), with Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh saying the changes are…

Read More
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe/Photo File

Gov’t unveils sweeping tea sector reforms to boost farmers’ earnings, global competitiveness

The government has unveiled far-reaching reforms aimed at transforming Kenya’s tea sector, raising smallholder farmers’ incomes and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in the global tea market. Under the new reform programme, smallholder tea farmers could earn up to Ksh100 per kilogramme of green leaf by 2027, nearly double the current average returns. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary…

Read More
Agriculture CS Kagwe in parliament/ photo Courtesy

Gov’t to redouble tea farmers earnings in 2027

The government has announced a reform programme in the tea sector aimed at stabilising prices, improving quality and doubling tea farmers’ earnings to Ksh.100 per kilogramme of green leaf by 2027. Speaking when he appeared before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe intimated that tea farmers receive payments through a two-tier payment model; a monthly initial payment and…

Read More
KTDA Holding Board Member Enos Njeru addressing farmers/Photo Courtesy

Tea farmers resists introduction of draconian regulations

Tea growers in the east of the rift are protesting against a proposal on the standardization of the tea bonus, calling on the stakeholders to enforce plucking of quality green leaf. In their Annual General Meetings, the farmers across the counties said the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) should ensure all the players are involved…

Read More
COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli pose for a photo at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu/Photo Courtesy

Women trade unionists urged to push for end of child-labour in Kenya’s tea, coffee sectors

The Central Organization of Trade Unions of Kenya (COTU-K) has urged women trade unionists in the country to take a frontline role in ending child labour within Kenya’s tea and coffee sectors. Speaking on Thursday at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu during the opening of a capacity-building workshop for women trade unionists, the…

Read More
Bomet Governor, Professor Hillary Barchok/Photo Courtesy

Bomet governor assures tea farmers of reliable global opportunities, citing Iran export success

Bomet Governor, Professor Hillary Barchok, has assured tea farmers of his government’s commitment to securing reliable markets for their produce in the outside countries including Iran. Governor Barchok told the farmers that he has been fighting for the direct sales of the Kenyan tea, something he revealed that he has succeeded and now the farmers…

Read More
Tea Farmer/photo courtesy

Joy as Gitwe Tea factory announces 2024/25 bonus payments for Kiambu farmers

Tea growers in Kiambu County have every reason to celebrate following the announcement of the 2024/25 bonus payments by Gitwe Tea Factory. The announcement was made by the tea factory director David Muni Ichoho. According to Ichoho, the bonus allocations per kilogram of green leaf delivered will be as follows: Theta/Ndarugu Ksh 40, Kambaa Ksh…

Read More
Don`t copy text!