Nairobi: Tea farmers across major tea-growing zones east and west of the Rift Valley have expressed relief and optimism following an upward review of monthly green leaf payment rates.
According to Kenya News Agency, a directive issued last week by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings has seen factory boards revise the green leaf payment to at least Sh30 per kilogram, effective February 2026. Previously, farmers in factories east of the Rift Valley earned up to Sh25 per kilogram, while those west of the Rift were paid a maximum of Sh20, a disparity that had long drawn complaints from growers. In the review, those in the west of the rift will now receive Sh26 per kilo of green leaf monthly.
Speaking to KNA, farmers said the review comes as a much-needed boost after years of declining earnings that had pushed many to the brink of abandoning tea farming. ‘We have depended on tea as our primary source of income for decades, yet last year we received one of the lowest bonus payouts in recent history,
dropping by more than Sh10 per kilo,’ said Nathan Mbuthia, a farmer who sells his green leaf to Kanyenyaini Tea Factory. ‘We are still recovering from that shock, but this new rate gives us hope. At least now we can see a silver lining,’ he added.
Mbuthia noted that the steep decline in bonus payments by nearly Sh20 per kilogram in some factories had left farmers devastated. ‘Personally, I was contemplating switching to an alternative crop. With this review, I will be able to service my loans and educate my children without too much strain,’ he added. The prolonged drop in tea prices had triggered unrest among growers, who repeatedly demanded government intervention to stabilise the sector and cushion them from global market shocks.
KTDA has previously attributed the reduced earnings to a slump in global tea prices, compounded by delayed fertiliser distribution, depressed rainfall that lowered production volumes, unfavourable exchange rates, and the loss of key export markets such as Iran and Sudan due to g
eopolitical tensions. KTDA Chairman Chege Kirundi, speaking earlier this month, acknowledged the challenges but assured farmers of better prospects ahead. ‘Last year was particularly difficult for the sector, but we are optimistic that 2026 will be a better year. We are doing everything possible to stabilise the industry and protect growers’ earnings,’ Kirundi said.
Farmers say the revised rates have already injected renewed confidence into the sector. Paul Mwangi, a small-scale farmer affiliated with Githambo Tea Factory, said the industry is slowly regaining its footing. ‘This increase means the farmer can better cope with the harsh economic times while earning a dignified livelihood from hard work. It shows that our factory directors are beginning to prioritise the welfare of growers,’ he said. He urged stakeholders to sustain the upward trend, calling for a gradual review to Sh40 per kilogram. ‘We are hopeful that this year’s bonus will not fall below Sh50. That motivation encourages us to invest more in
nurturing quality tea,’ he added.
Meanwhile, Lucy Wambui, a farmer affiliated with the Kiru Tea Factory, welcomed the price adjustment but called for reforms in bonus payment schedules. ‘Quarterly bonus payments would help cushion farmers from exchange-rate fluctuations. When the shilling strengthens, farmers would benefit immediately instead of waiting for a full year,’ she said. Wambui noted that such a system would provide steadier cash flow and help farmers better plan their household and farm expenses.
The price review has been widely welcomed as a positive step towards restoring confidence in Kenya’s tea sector, which remains a critical source of livelihood for millions of small-scale farmers.