The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has cautioned politicians against turning tea prices into a divisive regional debate, saying the challenges in the value chain are technical.
Kagwe said the concerns raised should be addressed through policy, data, and improved quality standards rather than political rhetoric.
Speaking in Embu County, during the flagging off of 13 new milk coolers destined for local dairy cooperatives, he said tea buyers are never compelled to buy from one region over another.
Instead, the buyers go for the teas that meet their preferred quality profile, observed the CS barely a week after the politicians from West of the rift claimed the buyers offer better prices to teas from the east of the rift.
“Buyers are not forced to buy tea from any specific region. It is their preference. They dictate the type and quality of tea they want,” said Kagwe “Tea taste issues are not political issues. They are technical issues.”
He emphasized that the tea market remains fully open under KTDA Holdings Limited and that no farmer is restricted to one channel.
“If you feel the prices you are getting are not fair, pursue direct sales. You are free to choose where to sell. My job is to ensure tea quality improves across all regions, and I am working with the East to make sure they fetch better prices,” he said. “Let us not politicize tea prices. Good prices follow good quality. Two leaves and a bud, that discipline remains key.”
The government official urged leaders to stop dividing farmers along regional tea lines, warning that such narratives can destabilize a sector that has historically been one of Kenya’s most unified economic pillars.
“We do not want to divide the sector. Politicians, please don’t divide people along tea lines. There is no division. Our job is to produce the best quality tea and help regions that need support to reach that level,” he said.
He stressed that: agricultural issues are technical, not political; Solutions must be policy-led, permanent, and data-based; Agriculture is viewed holistically, not through a geographical lens; Leaders must issue unifying statements that empower farmers, not divide them.
“We call for sobriety. The issues facing agriculture are well known to farmers and stakeholders. They should be addressed through technical interventions, not political competition.”
He reaffirmed that the Ministry is committed to safeguarding all subsectors and encouraged leaders to familiarize themselves with the underlying technical issues before making public comments.
On the dairy sector, Kagwe said the investment reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening dairy value chains, reducing post-harvest losses, and stabilizing farmer incomes
The event was attended by PS Jonathan Mueke, Governor Hon. Cecily Mbarire Cecil, Kenya Dairy Board Chairperson, and Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi.
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