Gov't sells 102 million kilos of tea stranded at Mombasa auction

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has sold 102 million kilos of tea stranded at the Mombasa Tea Auction, hence preventing a crisis at the sector that has been driven by high volumes of the commodity over the years.

This is according to KTDA officials who held a meeting with Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to appraise him on the efforts undertaken to reduce the stockpile of unsold tea and methods of expanding revenue streams for the farmers.

Following the presidential directive to address the crisis, KTDA CEO Wilson Muthaura and board chairman Chege Kirundi explained that the agency had sold 97 per cent of the tea and is now remaining with 3.7 million.

Muthaura explained that the board broke into new markets such as India, Bulgaria, Georgia, USA, Iraq, Turkey, Brazil, Russia, Iran and Sudan to facilitate the sale.

CS Kagwe pledged a whole-of-government approach in liaising with the Ministry of Investments Trade and Industry to clear up the trading barriers.

He also lauded KTDA for instituting reforms to enhance efficiencies, mitigate the impact of climate change, diversify investments, and market tea under the Produce of Kenya brand. 

The CS added that the measures would increase the farmers' revenues and rubberstamp the country's dominance in the sector.