NAIROBI, Kenya – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has issued a stern warning to tea factories involved in the illegal hawking of green leaf, declaring that the government will revoke their licenses under the Tea Act (2020).
Speaking during a high-stakes meeting at Kilimo House in Nairobi, Kagwe emphasized that such practices undermine tea quality and cheat farmers of their rightful earnings.
“Any factory found hawking green leaf will be delicensed immediately. We will not allow a few rogue players to destabilize an industry that thousands depend on,” Kagwe said.
The warning follows a week-long boycott by farmers from Motigo and Olenguruone tea factories in Bomet and Nakuru counties, who refused to pluck or deliver green leaf in protest against Kapkoros Tea Factory PLC, their parent company.
The farmers accused Kapkoros of delaying their financial and operational independence, despite overwhelming votes for autonomy in December 2023 and subsequent reaffirmations in 2024 and 2025.
The standoff led to massive losses, with thousands of kilos of tea left unpicked.
The crisis was resolved after a high-powered meeting involving KTDA, the Tea Board of Kenya, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei, and Kapkoros directors.
Key resolutions included immediate financial and operational separation of Motigo and Olenguruone from Kapkoros, farmers to resume plucking and deliveries immediately, smart card issuance for farmers to proceed without delay, a Special General Meeting (SGM) within 21 days to finalize the transition, and withdrawal of all court cases and petitions to foster cooperation.
Additionally, Kapkoros will help establish the new Kamogoso Tea Factory, while government funds will modernize older factories.
The deal marks a major victory for smallholder farmers, who have long demanded greater control over their earnings.
With Kagwe’s crackdown on malpractice and the resolution of the Kapkoros dispute, the tea sector—a cornerstone of Kenya’s economy—could be entering a new phase of transparency and farmer empowerment.
