Kenya’s tea exports surged in October 2025, but for thousands of smallholder farmers, the numbers tell only half the story.
Behind the upbeat shipment figures lies an industry struggling with delayed payments, fragile markets and policy uncertainty that continues to squeeze rural livelihoods.
According to the Tea Industry Performance Report for October 2025, Kenya exported 53.28 million kilogrammes of tea — a 22.12 per cent jump from 43.63 million kg in the same month last year and an improvement from September’s 48.81 million kg.
Production, however, remained largely flat at 49.70 million kg, only marginally below the 50.06 million kg recorded in October 2024. The modest recovery followed months of declining output between June and September, aided by improved rainfall during the onset of the short rains.
The regional split highlights how climate variability continues to shape farmers fortunes. Production west of the Rift Valley rose by 1.23 per cent to 32.51 million kg, buoyed by well-distributed rainfall. East of the Rift, output fell by 4.21 per cent to 17.19 million kg, reflecting drier conditions.
For farmers, these fluctuations are not abstract statistics. Lower leaf deliveries translate directly into reduced factory payments — often at a time when households are grappling with rising school fees, fertiliser costs and basic living expenses.
Export demand remained concentrated in traditional markets. Pakistan led purchases at 21.30 million kg, accounting for 40 per cent of exports, followed by Egypt (17.3 per cent), the UK, UAE, Russia and Kazakhstan.
The top 10 destinations absorbed nearly 87 per cent of Kenya’s tea exports.
Emerging and seasonal markets such as Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Japan and Chile posted growth, while value-added tea exports reached 1.46 million kg — just three per cent of total volumes — underscoring the sector’s continued reliance on bulk, low-margin sales.
Yet the improved export numbers mask deep-seated vulnerabilities.
Industry players warn that market disruptions, especially the continued fallout from Iran’s trade suspension, are eroding farmer incomes and confidence.
Iran has historically ranked among Kenya’s top five tea markets, importing between 20,000 and 25,000 tonnes annually, largely high-value orthodox teas that fetch premium prices.
The temporary ban imposed in 2023 following a controversial shipment involving an Iranian firm not only disrupted exports but also triggered delayed payments across the value chain.
For smallholder farmers, delayed payments mean postponed medical care, stalled farm investments and growing debt to agro-dealers and cooperative societies.
Harrison Ochieng, deputy secretary of the Green Thinking Action Party (GTAP), said the government must act urgently to stabilise the sector and shield farmers from financial distress.
“Tea is not just a crop. It is a national livelihood system, a foreign exchange pillar and a stabiliser of rural economies,” Ochieng said.
“When tea is shaken, households shake, county economies shake and national confidence in governance is affected.”
GTAP has called for reforms within 30 days, including enforceable payment timelines, export traceability, transparency in factory deductions and emergency cash-flow support for tea-growing counties.
“No tea farmer should bear losses arising from fraud, delayed payments, policy failures or market access breakdowns,” Ochieng said, warning that weak export controls expose the sector to further bans and reputational damage.
The party also proposed the appointment of a Tea Market Recovery Envoy to reopen blocked markets such as Iran, alongside the designation of tea as a Strategic Livelihood Sector to secure long-term policy protection.
For farmers in the highlands, the stakes are immediate.
While exports may rise month to month, income security depends on timely payments, stable markets and trust in the system that carries their green leaf from farm gate to auction floor.
Until those gaps are addressed, analysts warn that export growth alone will not translate into improved livelihoods — and the disconnect between national performance reports and rural reality will continue to widen.
by agatha Ngotho
