Tea Board Reaffirms Partnership and Transparency in Industry Reforms

Tea board of Kenya(TBK) Chairman, Mr. Ndungu Gathinji(Left),TBK Chief Executive officer, Mr. Willy Mutai(Centre) and TBK board member Kennedy Kaburi at the Stakeholder validation forum on Monday, October 13, 2025 in Nairobi.

Nairobi, Kenya – Monday, October 13, 2025 -The Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and accountability in implementing new sector regulations designed to strengthen governance and enhance the competitiveness of Kenyan tea.

Speaking during the opening session of the Stakeholder Validation Forum on the Draft Tea Regulations, 2025, held in Nairobi on Monday, TBK Chairperson Ndung’u Gathinji said the reforms mark a turning point for the industry by creating a framework that is both practical and inclusive.

“This forum marks a significant milestone in our collective journey to strengthen the governance and sustainability of Kenya’s tea industry,” said Gathinji. “The success of these regulations will depend on the cooperation and goodwill of all of us. Our shared purpose is to safeguard and elevate the Kenyan tea sector for this generation and those to come.”

The two-day forum, convened with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, brought together stakeholders to review three key draft instruments — the Tea (Levy) Regulations, 2025, the Tea (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 2025, and the Green Leaf Quality Requirements.

Day One involved small and medium-scale tea growers, Smallholder Tea Factory Companies Ltd, KTDA (Holdings) Ltd, and KTDA (Management Services) Ltd, who shared feedback on the proposed reforms and their potential impact on farmer livelihoods and factory operations.

TBK’s Corporation Secretary and Director of Legal Services, Peris Mudida, said the new regulations are intended to streamline registration and licensing across the tea value chain and eliminate loopholes that have encouraged malpractice.

“These regulations focus on registration and licensing of value chain players — from growers and manufacturers to blenders, packers, and transporters,” said Mudida. “Our goal is to bring order, ensure traceability, and promote professionalism across all levels of the tea value chain. Once these are in place, subsequent regulations will address trade, value addition, and marketing.”

She added that the reforms will require factories to verify grower details before registration, maintain updated grower registers, and sign green leaf agreements with farmers — all aimed at ensuring accountability and protecting smallholders from exploitation.

TBK Chief Executive Officer Willy Mutai clarified that the Tea Levy under discussion is not a new tax but a mechanism for ensuring the sector is self-sustaining.

“These regulations are not establishing the tea levy,” said Mutai. “The levy already exists in law — what we are doing is providing a transparent mechanism for how it will be collected and used to finance marketing, quality control, and other essential services that keep the industry competitive.”

TBK Board Member Kennedy Kaburi, representing the West of Rift region, praised the inclusive consultation process and emphasized that public participation was key to ensuring the new regulations reflect stakeholder realities.

“You cannot roll out a programme that affects an industry player without informing them and hearing their views,” said Kaburi. “The validation we are conducting today ensures that all perspectives are captured so that we do not end up with laws that are contested in court again. This process is about building trust and partnership.”

The meeting closed with a call for unity and shared responsibility among stakeholders as the process continues on Tuesday, when buyers, exporters, and other large-scale players will take part in the second day of the forum.