Policy Analysis

RESEARCH AREA

In-depth coverage of Kenya's tea sector — auction performance, bonus rates, smallholder farmer livelihoods, export markets, and the policy forces shaping the industry.

13+

Publications

3Yrs

Active Research

Key Topics

Agricultural Economics Debt Management Economic Policy Fiscal Policy IMF Programs

Policy Briefs

How Kenya's tea levy will work and who will pay

Kenya's newly gazetted Tea (Levy) Regulations establish a 0.8% export tax on the auction or customs value of tea, and a 100% levy on imported bulk-made tea.

Kimani Turaco · May 18, 2026 · 3 min read

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Kenya's newly gazetted Tea (Levy) Regulations establish a 0.8% export tax

Policy Briefs

How Kenya's tea levy will work and who will pay

Kenya's newly gazetted Tea (Levy) Regulations establish a 0.8% export tax on the auction or customs value of tea, and a 100% levy on imported bulk-made tea.

Kimani Turaco · May 18, 2026 · 3 min read

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Policy Briefs

How Kenya's tea levy will work and who will pay

Kenya's newly gazetted Tea (Levy) Regulations establish a 0.8% export tax on the auction or customs value of tea, and a 100% levy on imported bulk-made tea.

May 18, 2026 · 3 min read

Policy Analysis

Smallholder Tea Farmer Incomes: The Real Story Behind the Bonus Numbers

Annual tea bonuses make headlines but the full income picture for Kenya's 680,000 smallholder tea farmers is far more complex. This analysis breaks down earnings, costs, and net returns.

May 5, 2026 · 3 min read

Policy Analysis

Kenya Tea Exports: New Markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East

Declining demand from traditional buyers is pushing Kenya's tea industry to diversify its export base. We examine emerging opportunities in Eastern Europe, the Gulf states, and Central Asia.

May 5, 2026 · 3 min read

Smallholder Tea Farmer Incomes: The Real Story Behind the Bonus Numbers

The Numbers Don't Lie: Inside Kenya's Fiscal Crisis

Policy Analysis

Smallholder Tea Farmer Incomes: The Real Story Behind the Bonus Numbers

Annual tea bonuses make headlines but the full income picture for Kenya's 680,000 smallholder tea farmers is far more complex. This analysis breaks down earnings, costs, and net returns.

May 5, 2026

Climate Change and Tea Production: How Shifting Rainfall Patterns Are Affecting Yields

When the Nation Lives on Borrowed Time — Kenya's Sovereign Debt is Rewriting Its Future

Policy Analysis

Climate Change and Tea Production: How Shifting Rainfall Patterns Are Affecting Yields

Unpredictable rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and erratic weather patterns are increasingly threatening green leaf output in Kenya's highland tea zones. This report quantifies the impact.

May 5, 2026

Kenya Tea Exports: New Markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East

From Nairobi to the IMF Table: Unpacking Kenya's Debt Negotiations

Policy Analysis

Kenya Tea Exports: New Markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East

Declining demand from traditional buyers is pushing Kenya's tea industry to diversify its export base. We examine emerging opportunities in Eastern Europe, the Gulf states, and Central Asia.

May 5, 2026

KTDA Factory Performance: Which Regions Are Producing the Best Tea in 2025?

Austerity's Aftermath — A Nation's Report Card on Structural Reform

Policy Analysis

KTDA Factory Performance: Which Regions Are Producing the Best Tea in 2025?

An in-depth review of KTDA factory output data reveals significant regional disparities in green leaf yields, quality scores, and farmer earnings across Kenya's tea-growing counties.

May 5, 2026

Mombasa Tea Auction: March 2025 Performance Report and Price Trends

Monetary Policy Mirage: Inflation, Interest Rates, and the Middle Class

Policy Analysis

Mombasa Tea Auction: March 2025 Performance Report and Price Trends

March 2025 auction results show a mixed performance across tea grades. Orthodox teas commanded premium prices while CTC grades faced headwinds from reduced demand in traditional markets.

May 5, 2026

Public Debt Sustainability: Is Kenya's Debt-to-GDP Ratio a Cause for Alarm?

The Taxation Trap: How Revenue Policy Is Squeezing Ordinary Kenyans

Policy Briefs

Public Debt Sustainability: Is Kenya's Debt-to-GDP Ratio a Cause for Alarm?

Kenya's public debt has surpassed 70% of GDP, raising significant concerns about long-term fiscal stability. This in-depth brief examines the evolving composition of the debt, its maturity profile, and the overall sustainability of Kenya's debt stock in comparison to regional peer countries. We further analyze the implications of rising interest payments on public service delivery and explore potential pathways for structural fiscal consolidation to mitigate default risks.

May 5, 2026

Tax Revenue Shortfalls and the KRA's Challenge: Closing the Gap Without Killing Growth

Kenya's Economy at a Crossroads: Hard Truths and Harder Choices

Policy Briefs

Tax Revenue Shortfalls and the KRA's Challenge: Closing the Gap Without Killing Growth

The Kenya Revenue Authority has consistently missed its collection targets. This analysis explores the structural weaknesses in Kenya's tax system and realistic reform pathways.

May 5, 2026

Monetary Policy Under Pressure: CBK's Rate Decisions in a High-Inflation Environment

Public Debt Spiral — The Hidden Cost of Political Inaction

Policy Briefs

Monetary Policy Under Pressure: CBK's Rate Decisions in a High-Inflation Environment

The Central Bank of Kenya has navigated one of its most complex monetary policy periods in recent memory. This brief analyses the rate trajectory, exchange rate pressures, and what lies ahead.

May 5, 2026

The IMF Debt Trap: How Structural Adjustment Is Reshaping Kenya's Public Services

Beyond the IMF: Can Kenya Chart Its Own Economic Path?

Policy Briefs

The IMF Debt Trap: How Structural Adjustment Is Reshaping Kenya's Public Services

Kenya's latest IMF programme comes with conditions that are quietly transforming how public services are funded and delivered. We examine the fiscal consolidation targets and their human cost.

May 5, 2026

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