Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged young Kenyans to embrace tea farming as a viable business opportunity, saying the government is implementing reforms aimed at improving farmers’ earnings and strengthening the country’s globally competitive tea sector.

In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, July 11, 2026, after visiting Mudete Tea Factory in Vihiga County, Mudavadi said tea remains one of Kenya’s most valuable cash crops, supporting thousands of households, earning the country foreign exchange and driving economic growth in rural areas.

Tea remains key economic pillar

Mudavadi said his visit to the factory gave him an opportunity to understand the tea value chain, from production at the farm level to processing and marketing.

He noted that since its establishment in 1997, Mudete Tea Factory has transformed the lives of more than 12,000 tea farmers drawn from Vihiga and neighbouring Kakamega County.

“Tea remains one of Kenya’s most valuable cash crops, sustaining hundreds of thousands of families, generating foreign exchange and driving rural economic growth,” Mudavadi said.

He added that the factory continues to play a significant role in improving livelihoods while supporting one of Kenya’s leading export industries.

Youth challenged to embrace agriculture

The Prime Cabinet Secretary encouraged farmers to continue investing in tea production while calling on young people to change their perception of agriculture.

He said tea farming should be viewed as a modern and profitable enterprise capable of creating employment and wealth, particularly when supported by technology, innovation and value addition.

“I encouraged farmers to continue investing in tea production and challenged our young people to view agriculture, particularly tea farming, as a modern, profitable enterprise by embracing technology, innovation and value addition to enhance productivity and competitiveness,” he stated.

Government promises sector reforms

Mudavadi said the government remains committed to reforms designed to improve returns for tea farmers and make Kenya’s tea more competitive in international markets.

He said ongoing interventions are aimed at increasing farmers’ earnings, improving bonus payments, expanding export markets and ensuring sustainable incomes for tea-growing communities.

“The Government remains committed to implementing reforms in the tea sector aimed at increasing farmers’ earnings, improving bonus payments, expanding Kenya’s tea export markets and ensuring sustainable incomes for tea-growing communities,” he said.

Mudavadi thanked Mudete Tea Factory Unit Manager Peter Munialo, the management, staff and farmers for their contribution to the country’s tea industry, saying their commitment continues to strengthen Kenya’s reputation as one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality tea.