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

Showing 13 publications

All Analyses

FEATURED

Kenya's 2025/26 Budget: Revenue Pressures, Spending Priorities, and What Was Left Unsaid

Tea Sector Under Pressure: Who Pays the Price?

Policy Briefs

Kenya's 2025/26 Budget: Revenue Pressures, Spending Priorities, and What Was Left Unsaid

The 2025/26 national budget reveals a government caught between rising debt obligations, shrinking fiscal space, and mounting public expectations. This analysis unpacks the key revenue and expenditure decisions and what they mean for ordinary Kenyans.

Machira Muturi · May 5, 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

Tea Bonus Rates Out Next Week: Why This Year’s Tea Bonus Won’t Match Last Year

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

Policy Analysis

Tea Bonus Rates Out Next Week: Why This Year’s Tea Bonus Won’t Match Last Year

Kenya’s tea factories will declare annual bonus rates next week, but industry signals show farmers should brace for slightly reduced payouts. A convergence of climate shocks, currency volatility, delayed farm inputs, and global price pressures has undermined profitability, threatening the livelihoods of over 680,000 smallholder farmers.

September 18, 2025

February 2025 Tea Sector Report: Weather Strain, Strong Auction Demand, and New Export Markets

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

Policy Analysis

February 2025 Tea Sector Report: Weather Strain, Strong Auction Demand, and New Export Markets

The Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) has released its performance report for February 2025, shedding light on key shifts in the tea industry. From sharp declines in production due to severe weather, to improved auction performance and expansion into emerging export markets, the report reveals a sector under pressure but adapting with resilience.

July 7, 2025

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