NAIROBI, Kenya – In a move aimed at restoring order and boosting profitability in the country’s tea industry, the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) has announced a ban on the hawking of green tea leaves and roadside collections.
The directive is part of broader reforms targeting sustainability and improved returns for tea growers.
According to a circular issued by TBK, all tea factories and producers have been cautioned against engaging in malpractices such as green leaf hawking, roadside collections in areas without designated collection centers, using unregistered leaf collection vehicles, and relying on unauthorized green brokers.
TBK’s Chief Executive Officer, Willy Mutai, emphasized that these measures are necessary to improve the quality of processed tea and secure better prices for farmers and investors.
“To actualize these reforms, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture has directed tea producers and factories to cease all forms of malpractice, including green leaf hawking, which has undermined the industry’s standards and profitability,” Mutai stated.
Tea hawking—where farmers sell green tea leaves to factories other than those they are registered with—has become widespread, despite being prohibited under the Tea Act of 2020.
The practice is fueled by the influx of private tea factories that entice farmers with higher prices.
However, the Tea Board has warned that this trend has led to a decline in tea quality and, consequently, reduced earnings for farmers.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe recently highlighted the government’s commitment to enforcing reforms that will uplift tea farmers’ livelihoods.
Among the measures being introduced are the gazettement of green leaf quality standards and the operationalization of Tea Regulations under the Tea Act, 2020.
These regulations will outline stringent guidelines for harvesting and processing tea to curb the production of low-quality products.
The reforms are part of a broader agenda to position Kenya’s tea industry as a global leader in quality and profitability.
Mutai underscored that maintaining high standards is critical to securing better prices on the international market.
“Improving the quality of green leaf processed by factories is a milestone that will translate to better returns for both growers and investors,” he noted.
The government’s renewed focus on the tea sector comes as a welcome relief to many farmers, who have long complained about poor pay and exploitative practices.
By curbing hawking and related malpractices, stakeholders hope to foster a more structured and transparent supply chain that benefits all players in the industry.
As the new guidelines take effect, the Tea Board has urged farmers, producers, and factories to comply with the directives to ensure the long-term success of Kenya’s tea sector.
Non-compliance, the board warned, will attract severe penalties as the government seeks to restore discipline and professionalism in the industry.
