The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has announced a series of fresh reforms aimed at improving tea earnings and restoring confidence among smallholder farmers.
Speaking on Thursday, Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh said the government remains committed to supporting tea farmers through both immediate and long-term measures.
Over the past year, farmers have benefited from subsidized fertilizer sold at Sh2,500 per bag, a Sh2 billion refund on earlier fertilizer costs, and the removal of taxes on tea and packaging materials under the 2025 Finance Bill.
The government has also recovered Sh2.7 billion held in collapsed banks and allocated Sh3.7 billion to modernize aging factories.
Ronoh said the administration has opened new international markets in China, Iran, the USA, and Europe, restarted the Chemosit hydropower project, and distributed over 400,000 high-yield tea varieties to boost production.
However, the ministry acknowledged growing concerns over lower green leaf payments for the 2024/25 financial year.
The decline, Ronoh explained, was driven by global market trends, including a stronger shilling, falling international tea prices, higher production costs, and the sale of carry-over stock at lower prices.
He dismissed claims that some farmers received only Sh10 per kilo, clarifying that this was part of the total payment.
Farmers had already received an initial Sh23–25 per kilo, bringing the average payment to Sh56 per kilo, with the lowest factory paying Sh33.58.
Ronoh also noted concerns over governance at the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), including excessive allowances and weak internal controls. He ruled out disbanding KTDA but called for restructuring to improve accountability and restore farmer trust.
The ministry announced several measures, including new green leaf quality standards, the completion of the Tea Quality Analysis Laboratory in Mombasa, and the Strategic Tea Quality Improvement Programme to help factories meet global standards.
KTDA has also been directed to release the recovered Sh2.7 billion to farmers by October 15, 2025.
Ronoh said a national tea conference will be held within two weeks to deliberate further reforms.
He emphasized that sustainable, long-term solutions, not short-term fixes, are key to securing the future of a sector that supports more than 10 million Kenyans.