Ruto Orders Tea Value Addition Facility at Mombasa Port, Demands Transparency on Factory Bonuses

Kenya, October 09, 2026 - President William Ruto has directed the establishment of a major tea value-addition facility at the Port of Mombasa and approved 50 acres of land for the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) to expand processing capacity, as part of efforts to increase earnings for tea farmers.

Speaking while answering farmers’ questions on the final day of the Agriculture & Food Systems Transformation Summit at Jamhuri Park, Nairobi, the President addressed sharp differences in bonus payments across tea factories. He noted that while some factories paid bonuses of up to KSh50 per kilo this year, others paid as low as KSh12.

Ruto attributed the disparities largely to management issues and the use of old, inefficient machinery in some factories. He revealed that the government has already allocated KSh850 million to help upgrade underperforming facilities and improve efficiency.

The President urged tea farmers to elect factory leaders who prioritise better returns, saying the differences in payments must be discussed openly. He also announced that investors will be encouraged to set up value-addition plants alongside KTDA, with the Mombasa facility aimed at processing tea closer to the point of export.