Khartoum's ban on Kenyan tea export felt in Embu

According to the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), the ban has already disrupted logistics, with more than 2,000 containers of tea worth about KSh 1.3 billion now stranded at the Port of Mombasa. Some consignments already on transit are stuck mid-route, causing panic among exporters and producers who depend on the Sudanese market.

The ban was announced by Sudan’s Ministry of Trade and Supply on March 11, 2025, citing national security concerns. It followed Kenya’s decision to host a political meeting involving Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an action that Khartoum deemed provocative and hostile. Sudan's government responded by halting all imports from Kenya indefinitely.

The economic consequences are already being felt. In 2024, Sudan was the 12th largest importer of Kenyan tea, purchasing 10.7 million kilograms valued at KSh 2.3 billion. That figure had already been on the decline due to internal conflict in Sudan, but the latest ban threatens to slash it to zero, putting Kenya’s tea industry in jeopardy.

In Embu County, where tea farming supports thousands of households, local leaders have spoken out. Mwenje Njeru, Chairperson of Mungania Tea Factory, warned that the ban could devastate farmers who rely almost entirely on the BP1 variety. He urged the Ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs to intervene swiftly.

Moses Kamau, Chairperson of Kathangarire Tea Factory, expressed fears that this year’s tea bonuses could be cut by more than half. Last year, farmers earned KSh 50 per kilogram, but with the primary market frozen, the price could nosedive. He warned that if the crisis continues, many farmers may quit tea farming altogether.

Runyenjes Member of Parliament, Muchangi Karemba, said the government must act fast to resolve the diplomatic dispute before foreign politics wreck the livelihoods of Kenyans. He said tea farming is a cornerstone of Embu's economy, and any threat to the sector threatens the stability of the region.

Former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti added his voice to the debate, questioning Kenya’s continued reliance on exporting raw tea. He called for urgent investment in value addition  including products like tea-based cosmetics, wellness drinks, and herbal medicine  to cushion the industry from global market shocks.

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), which oversees small-scale tea production, is now scrambling to find alternative buyers. However, redirecting large quantities of BP1 tea to new markets is proving difficult, especially since Sudan had become a specialized consumer of that specific grade.

As the crisis unfolds, tea stakeholders are appealing to the Kenyan government for immediate diplomatic talks with Sudan. They also want a grace period to clear the already-exported tea before the losses become irrecoverable.