Kenya’s tea farmers are grappling with sharply reduced bonuses this year, a development that has sparked both political criticism and official explanations.
Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae took to X on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to fault President William Ruto for the decline. She argued that the government’s reliance on agriculture as the backbone of the economy is misguided in today’s global market. According to Wamae, agriculture can at best secure Kenya’s food sovereignty but cannot drive long-term economic growth.
She cited three key structural weaknesses in the sector:
- Diminishing returns on land
- Dependence on seasonal weather and rain-fed farming
- Lack of product differentiation to give Kenyan tea a competitive edge internationally
Wamae lamented that farmers continue to work tirelessly yet receive “very little return” for their efforts.
KTDA’s Explanation
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) issued a press statement on Monday, September 30, offering a different perspective. The agency attributed the lower bonuses to unfavourable international market conditions and currency exchange rate shifts.
In 2024, the shilling traded at an average of Ksh144 to the US dollar, compared to Ksh129 this year. This weaker exchange rate meant that even stable global tea prices translated to lower earnings in Kenyan shillings.
The data paints a stark picture:
- East of the Rift Valley: Nyeri earned Ksh388 per kilo (down Ksh42), Kirinyaga Ksh400 (down Ksh38), and Kiambu Ksh371 (down Ksh46).
- West of the Rift Valley: Kericho dropped to Ksh245 per kilo (down Ksh101), Bomet to Ksh209 (down Ksh85), and Nyamira to Ksh266 (down Ksh106).
KTDA explained that the sharper declines in the west were linked to quality variations, market preferences, and cost structures. High-altitude teas generally fetch better global prices.
The agency also pointed to weaker global demand and rising operational costs, which squeezed factory and farmer earnings further. KTDA stressed that the decline was market-driven and not unique to its operations, cautioning farmers against politicising the issue.
Looking Ahead
While Wamae frames the problem as a failure of economic strategy, KTDA insists that global pressures are at play. Both perspectives highlight a deeper question: can Kenya’s tea industry—and agriculture at large—continue to sustain rural livelihoods in a changing global economy?
