Kenyan senators are urging diplomatic talks between Kenya and Sudan to address the ongoing ban on the export of Kenyan tea to the northeastern African nation.
The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization, and Tourism, chaired by Issa Juma Boy, has expressed concern that the trade impasse could disrupt Kenya’s tea industry.Sudan accounts for about 10 percent of Kenyan tea exports, making it the third-largest market for the country’s produce.
According to Senator Boy, the ban could lead to a backlog of unsold tea at the Mombasa Tea Auction, affecting farmers and exporters.The Senate committee is calling on relevant government agencies to engage their Sudanese counterparts to find a swift resolution.
The ban comes at a time when Kenya’s tea industry is already facing challenges, including fluctuating global prices and increased competition from other tea-producing nations.
Stakeholders in the tea sector are now closely watching the government’s next steps, as prolonged trade restrictions could have a significant economic impact on one of Kenya’s leading export commodities.
