NAIROBI, Kenya- Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has appealed to the Government of Sudan to lift its ban on Kenyan tea imports, warning that the trade restriction continues to inflict heavy losses on exporters and tea farmers.
Kalonzo said he visited the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Nairobi, where he presented what he described as a personal plea for the resumption of tea exports to one of Kenya’s key export markets.
The ban, imposed by Sudan in March 2025, followed a diplomatic dispute between Nairobi and Khartoum after Kenya hosted leaders of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan suspended all imports from Kenya, including tea, citing its national interests.
According to Kalonzo, Sudan had been among Kenya’s top five tea export destinations, importing about 35 million kilogrammes of tea worth approximately US$70 million annually.
He said the embargo disrupted shipments already destined for Sudan, leaving tea consignments stranded.
“When the ban took effect, tea worth more than US$24 million was already in transit or awaiting shipment, including 207 forty-foot containers that were stranded at the Port of Mombasa,” Kalonzo said.
He added that 3.44 million kilogrammes of tea valued at more than US$10.3 million remain in warehouses in Mombasa after being specially blended and packaged for the Sudanese market.
“These teas cannot easily be redirected to other markets, leading to substantial losses for exporters, depressing auction prices and ultimately reducing the earnings of Kenyan tea farmers,” he said.
Tea industry stakeholders have previously raised similar concerns, saying the embargo has left exporters with large volumes of unsold tea and affected prices at the Mombasa Tea Auction.
Kalonzo urged the Sudanese government to consider reopening its market to Kenyan tea, saying the move would safeguard livelihoods and strengthen long-standing economic ties between the two countries.
“I appealed to the Government of Sudan to consider lifting the ban and allowing the resumption of tea imports from Kenya,” he said.
He also thanked Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya, Kamal Jabara Gubara, and embassy officials for receiving his delegation and engaging in discussions on the matter.
“I remain hopeful that our discussions will contribute to a positive resolution that benefits both Kenya and Sudan,” Kalonzo said.
The Sudanese government has consistently maintained that the import ban remains in force despite previous claims by Kenyan officials that tea exports had resumed.
