Muturi links tea farmers’ suffering to govt diplomatic blunders with Sudan
By Kenneth Mwenda, March 31, 2026Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has expressed major concern over the impact of diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Sudan
In a statement on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Muturi stated that decades of trade built on trust and mutual benefit are now at risk. He warned that the country’s involvement in Sudan’s internal affairs has left farmers and traders bearing the brunt of failed diplomacy.
“Kenyan tea farmers are paying the price of reckless diplomacy,” Muturi’s statement read in part.
“For decades, Sudan has stood as a dependable market for our tea, one built on trust, consistency, and mutual economic benefit. Today, that relationship lies in ruins, and the consequences are devastating,” he added.
Stranded tea in Mombasa
Muturi highlighted that large consignments of tea remain stranded at the Port of Mombasa, with the country losing an estimated Ksh1.04 billion ($8 million) every week.
“This is not just a statistic; it is the livelihood of hardworking farmers and traders being eroded in real time,” the former attorney general remarked.
Tea shipments blocked abroad
George Omuga, director of the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA), confirmed on Friday, March 27, 2026, that between 6,000 and 8,000 tonnes of tea were stuck at Mombasa. Speaking to an international media house, he said that about 65 per cent of the East African tea market has been affected by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Echoing the sentiments, Muturi said the breakdown in trade with Sudan represents a serious economic setback.
“I have consistently warned against reckless and misguided diplomatic engagements. Kenya’s involvement in Sudan has severely strained bilateral relations, and now our farmers are bearing the brunt of those decisions,” he stated.
“Since independence, Sudan has been a key importer of Kenyan tea. The collapse of this long-standing trade partnership is a serious economic setback that cannot be ignored. If urgent corrective measures are not taken, losses will continue to escalate into hundreds of millions.”
Muturi urged the government to take swift action to restore trade ties and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
“The government must act, swiftly and decisively. Economic diplomacy is not optional; it is essential. We must restore our trade ties with strategic partners and protect the livelihoods of our tea farmers,” he wrote.
Deal hits farmers
Muturi’s remarks come months after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua blamed a deal between President William Ruto and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the current plight of tea farmers.
Speaking in October 2025, Gachagua said the agreement led to Sudan banning Kenyan tea imports, sharply reducing sales and forcing local prices down.
“A single decision by Ruto to do business with the rebel movement in Sudan made the government of Sudan ban the importation of Kenyan tea,” he said, adding that farmers across Kericho, Bomet, and other regions were left frustrated and struggling.