By Diana Wenwa
President William Ruto convened a meeting with the chairmen and directors of the Kenya Tea Development Agency KTDA factory at Statehouse Nairobi on Tuesday.
During this meeting, the president announced an ambitious plan to collaborate with a UK-based company in order to develop a branded Kenyan tea for the global market.
This initiative is aimed at enhancing the country’s revenue from its tea exports and elevating its visibility in the global markets.
President Ruto highlighted that much of the tea produced in Kenya and sold globally lacks any form of Kenyan branding.
The head of state regarded this as a missed opportunity to showcase the country’s unique identity and stressed the need for a proper strategy to aid in the growing, manufacturing, brand packaging, and selling of Kenyan tea to achieve its true value.
Highlighting Kenya as the third largest tea producer in the world, the president expressed concern that there are no supermarkets that sell Kenyan tea or Kenyan tea brands outside Kenya.
” Kenyan tea is sold in all manner of brands except a Kenyan brand. We cannot continue this way because we are serving other people’s interests we are not serving our own interests,” said the President.
Additionally, the president outlined plans to establish a tea academy that would address issues related to tea cultivation and best practices for growing tea.
He also underscored the need to develop common user facilities.
President Ruto also emphasized the importance of creating a cohesive working environment for KTDA members and the tea board. He stressed that a unified approach is crucial for advancing the interests of tea farmers.