The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Agriculture, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh Paul, CBS, on Wednesday officially flagged off the distribution of 400,000 certified tea seedlings to smallholder farmers across the country.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Tea Research Institute (TRI), marks a significant stride toward enhancing resilience, productivity, and profitability in the tea industry, a vital pillar of Kenya’s economy.
Speaking during his visit to the TRI facility in Kipkelion East Sub-County, Dr. Ronoh emphasized the strategic role the tea sub-sector plays in boosting foreign exchange, creating jobs, and aligning with the government’s wider agenda of food security and export-led growth.
“This is not just about tea,” he said. “It’s about livelihoods, innovation, and our commitment to global competitiveness.”
The government has committed KSh 3.5 billion toward modernizing 19 aging tea factories west of the Rift Valley, aiming to increase processing efficiency and improve farmers’ earnings.
Other reforms include addressing poor pricing structures, eliminating punitive taxation, and expanding international market access.
Dr. Ronoh also underscored the importance of TRI’s newly completed research facility, which is set to become a regional center for cutting-edge agricultural innovation.
The unit will tackle persistent sector challenges such as low yields, climate change impacts, and pest control, notably the tea mosquito menace.
Collaboration with multinational tea corporations will also be scaled up to expand the value chain and generate employment, particularly for the youth.
“We must build a future where our tea sector is not just surviving, but thriving, anchored in science, technology, and inclusive growth,” the PS added.
Kenya is the world’s third-largest tea producer and the top global exporter of black tea, a position the government seeks to strengthen through sustained investment and reform.
