President William Ruto has announced a significant allocation of Ksh. 1 billion towards the establishment of two new value addition and branding centers aimed at enhancing Kenya’s tea sector. Speaking during the launch of Chai Gold, the flagship tea brand of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) for the international market in Kericho County, President Ruto emphasized the importance of adding value to Kenyan tea to stimulate economic growth through job creation and wealth generation.
The funds will support the construction of value addition facilities in Kericho and Nairobi, serving tea-growing regions in the Western Rift and Eastern Rift respectively. President Ruto highlighted that despite challenges, efforts to increase tea branding have shown promising results, with branded tea production rising from 5% to 9% within a short period. The ultimate goal is to enhance value addition capacity to 5 million kilograms annually.
Additionally, President Ruto discussed collaborations with global entities like Unilever, which will now market Lipton Tea under the tagline “Origin of Kenya.” This move aims to properly recognize Kenya’s role as a major tea producer globally. Furthermore, initiatives such as subsidizing fertilizers are expected to boost tea earnings significantly, with projections indicating earnings could reach Ksh. 210 billion this year, resulting in record bonuses for farmers.
President Ruto urged KTDA to modernize operations, support smaller factories, and diversify into orthodox tea production to further strengthen Kenya’s position in the global tea market. The government’s commitment to enhancing value addition underscores its strategic focus on transforming the tea industry to unlock its full economic potential.
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