TEA NEWS

Mr Nyakera said the ongoing push for total overhaul of the value chain structures have the ability to push up farmers’ earnings and improve bonus calculations. • The Nyeri and Murang’a farmers said the government has to as a matter of urgency, shift gears to hound out of office all KTDA directors.

• Senator said KTDA is a public body and should be answerable to farmers. • He said the new tea regulations should be expedited so farmers can benefit if that is the route to help save the sector from collapsing.

• 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.