Tea farmers in Nyamira County will continue earning Sh24 per kilo of green leaf after the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) maintained the current monthly payment rate for five factories in the area.
In a statement released on Thursday, KTDA said the rate applies to farmers supplying tea to Nyansiongo, Nyankoba, Sanganyi, Kibirigo and Gianchore factories.
The agency explained that the decision was made after the factories faced financial pressure caused by low tea absorption and weak prices during the 2024/2025 financial year.
KTDA said the situation affected cash flow, making it difficult for the factories to increase payments at the moment.
“The boards of the five factories noted a drop in green leaf deliveries and asked farmers to continue supplying tea as better returns are expected in the coming months,” the agency said.
While the Sh24 rate will remain in place for now, KTDA said the payment will be reviewed once the financial position of the factories improves.
The agency also urged farmers to maintain proper tea picking practices to improve quality, saying better quality tea attracts higher prices at the auction.
The announcement comes days after KTDA advised factories in different tea-growing regions to review monthly payments based on their financial strength.
According to the agency, factories in the western Rift Valley regions including Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and parts of Nakuru may set monthly payments of up to Sh26 per kilo.
Factories in the eastern Rift Valley counties such as Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi and Meru were advised to consider payments of up to Sh30 per kilo.
KTDA said each factory board will make its own decision depending on cash flow and other financial obligations.
“The decision on monthly payments rests entirely with individual factory boards,” the agency said.
For now, Nyamira tea farmers will continue earning Sh24 per kilo as they wait for an improvement in market conditions and factory finances.
