Workers pick tea leaves at plantation in Nandi Hills, Kenya. File photo for representational purposes.
Kericho: Kenya has pledged to diversify its tea export markets and expand its range of tea products as part of efforts to boost export earnings and reduce dependence on traditional buyers.
Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, said on Thursday that the government is pursuing deliberate strategies to expand Kenya's tea footprint across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and North America.
"We are also encouraging greater investment in value addition and product diversification because the future of Kenya tea lies beyond bulk exports," he said in Kericho County, western Kenya, during celebrations to mark the International Tea Day.
Tea remains one of Kenya's primary foreign exchange earners, alongside tourism, horticulture, and diaspora remittances.
Driven by several reforms, market expansion, and new regulations, Kenya's total marketed tea earnings rose by 2 percent to reach 218.79 billion shillings (1.69 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, according to government statistics.
Kagwe said Kenya must increasingly move towards orthodox teas, specialty teas, green teas, purple teas, herbal blends, branded consumer packs, tea bags, and other innovative tea products that attract premium prices in international markets.
Kagwe added that through value addition, Kenya will increase earnings, strengthen the Kenya Tea brand, and create more employment opportunities.
