This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
On the horizon for Kericho County is a KSh150 million tea factory project, set to kick off in the next financial year.
The ambitious project aims to create a profitable and relevant tea industry in Western Kenya, particularly in Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, and Kisii counties.
According to Kericho Governor Professor Paul Chepkwony, the tea factory will help curb the exploitation of small-scale tea farmers by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).
“By establishing a new tea auction far away from Mombasa and a local tea factory in Western region, we will be in a position to process and market value-added teas and curb huge losses incurred from unjustified levies charged at Mombasa auction,” Chepkwony said.
As part of the project, the county will also establish a separate tea auction, distinct from the weekly tea auction in Mombasa.
