TEA NEWS #tea news

• CS Peter Munya said the agency had secret assets that did not benefit the small scale tea farmers KTDA was supposed to take care of. • The CS said the quest to reform the sector is unstoppable since it was a directive by President Kenyatta.

What you need to know: • MD Sylvia-Ten Den says Kenya operations are only undergoing a strategic review. • She indicated that the process will continue until the end of 2021 when a decision will be made on UTKL’s next step. • The review is aimed at figuring out the best business model to reap profits from UTKL’s tea business.

The East African country, the world’s biggest exporter of black tea, is trying to diversify into speciality teas, which normally command higher prices than the traditional variety.

KDTA has said the specialty green tea factory which is the first of its kind in the continent will produce specialized Japanese Sencha Green Tea at Kangaita Tea Farm in Kirinyaga County on a pilot basis as it embarks on diversification.

What you need to know: · KTDA has already gone to court to stop the implementation of the reforms. · Murang’a County has the largest concentration of tea factories in the country. · Aall the local elected leaders — apart from Woman Rep Wanjiru Chege and Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi — skipped the meeting that was attended by 1,300 tea sector stakeholders. · The Meru County boss has been telling farmers to resist the changes proposed by his predecessor.

For the Kenyan tea, production declined in July by 9.82 million kilos, according to the Tea Directorate, after cold weather engulfed growing areas in Central and the Rift Valley regions. This has been the trend for the past years.