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Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) has announced plans to license more tea agents to facilitate sale of Kenyan tea locally and internationally.

TBK’s chief executive Willy Mutai told journalists that the move amends regulations in the tea sector, that have been in force since 2008, and bring changes that will boost the tea industry in the country and bring fortunes to farmers.

Speaking at Kagwe tea factory in Lari, Kiambu County after overseeing election of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Zone One member, Mutai said that the regulations will bring to an end the archaic practice of having a few individuals trading in tea in the country.

Theta/Ndarugu tea Factories Director Gabriel Kagombe, who also doubles as Gatundu South MP, was elected as the Zone One KTDA board member after garnering 17 votes. He defeated former KTDA Chairman David Muni Ichoho who got 14 votes.

Mutai said regulations will allow TBK to license more traders including individuals and private firms who can penetrate more markets in the country, Africa and across the globe.

Quality of tea

A pledge to cut fertilizer costs and reduce farm gate costs for farmers through allocation of Sh2 billion in the supplementary budget iwill be a shot-in-the-arm for farmers as this will enhance production of quality tea. Mutai hailed the 71 KTDA-managed tea factories in the country for upscaling their production noting that the production has increased from 266 million kilos last year to 319 million kilos this year.

Kagombe said the team will focus on diversifying market strategies by increasing tea agents in all markets locally and internationally. He said that unlike tea, other beverages makers have hundreds of thousands of agents selling their brands.