Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and tea traders have advocated for the reinstatement of the Tea Board of Kenya, which was dissolved in 2014. The push comes as stakeholders argue the defunct institution was more effective in regulating tea production and exports compared to the current Tea Directorate.
During a public hearing on the Tea Bill 2018 before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, KTDA Managing Director Lerionka Tiampati emphasized that the Tea Board, established under the repealed Tea Act, was more effective in regulating tea production and exports. He noted that Kenya's tea competitors, including India and Sri Lanka, maintain robust tea boards that drive sector development.
The proposed Tea Bill, sponsored by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, aims to relocate the regulator's headquarters to Kericho, a move KTDA has contested. Tiampati highlighted Nairobi's strategic position relative to tea-growing regions and the Mombasa auction center, arguing against relocation. He also cited the use of tea farmers' resources in constructing the current headquarters as a reason to retain its location.
East African Tea Traders (Eatta), which oversees the auction, opposed the relocation but endorsed rebranding the regulator to a standalone entity. Managing Director Edward Mudibo stated the Tea Board of Kenya was a globally recognized brand, advocating for its restoration as a distinct regulatory body.
A separate report noted that drought concerns spurred a slight increase in tea prices at the Mombasa auction, as traders anticipated supply shortages.
