This archive report was first published on 14 November 2019.
Kenya's tea industry is poised for a potential boost as Lesotho considers buying tea directly from local factories. The move was announced by Lesotho's Minister for Agriculture Simon Litsane during a visit to the Ngorogo Tea Factory in Kiambu on November 13, 2019.
According to Litsane, Lesotho does not grow tea and is impressed by Kenya's tea production. He stated that his government is interested in purchasing Kenyan black tea directly, citing similarities in temperature between the two countries.
Lesotho's Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane, who led a three-day delegation to Kenya, signed three bilateral trade agreements with President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier in the visit. The agreements aim to strengthen trade ties between the two countries.
Ngorogo Tea Factory General Manager George Mugo welcomed the move, expressing excitement about the potential for direct trade. He noted that the factory is also open to exporting processed and bulk tea to the Lesotho market.
Kenya is one of the world's top tea exporters, while Lesotho relies heavily on tea imports from South Africa, mainly herbal tea. The move is seen as a potential game-changer for Kenya's tea industry, which has been facing challenges due to high production and low prices.
