SOUTH CAROLINA, U.S. – Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called on tea exporters and investors to package the commodity in Kenya, saying the shift would boost freshness, improve traceability, and raise earnings for farmers.
Speaking at the North America Tea Conference in South Carolina, Kagwe said the government had already scrapped taxes on packaging materials for agricultural products to support local value addition.
“By packaging at origin, we eliminate unnecessary costs, improve competitiveness, and strengthen Kenya’s position in the global tea market,” he told delegates.
The CS was accompanied by Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy Mutai, KTDA Chair Geoffrey Kirundi, KTDA CEO Wilson Muthaura, and Kenya’s Ambassador to the U.S. David Kerich.
Rising output, shifting trends
Kagwe reported that Kenya’s tea production rose by 4.95 percent in 2024, reaching 598.47 million kilograms, citing favourable weather, subsidised fertiliser, and expanded processing capacity.
He added that Kenya is diversifying into orthodox and speciality teas, especially purple tea, a variety developed at the Tea Research Institute.
Unique to Kenya, purple tea commands up to four times the price of black tea because of its high antioxidant content and health benefits.
“Kenya’s innovation in tea not only secures better earnings for farmers but also places us ahead in meeting shifting global consumer demands,” Kagwe said.
Tea’s broader role
The CS also underlined tea’s cultural and environmental significance, noting that beyond sustaining millions of livelihoods, the crop helps conserve ecosystems by preventing soil erosion, supporting biodiversity, and aiding carbon sequestration.
Kagwe concluded by urging the U.S. market to embrace Kenyan black, green, and purple teas, stressing that “quality will always find a market.”
