Kenyan farmers are set to benefit from expanded export opportunities after
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe kicked off
a week-long trade mission in the United States.
The visit seeks to secure direct market access
for Kenyan agricultural products, cutting out middlemen and boosting farmer
earnings.
On the first day of the tour, the delegation met
with American retail giant Walmart, which operates more than 40,000 outlets
across the US, to pitch Kenya’s tea, macadamia, and other farm products.
MACNUT Kenya CEO Jane Maigua showcased the
country’s macadamia as a premium crop, naturally grown without chemicals and
sourced from over 200,000 smallholder farmers.
She highlighted Kenya’s competitive edge, noting its nuts attract a 10
percent duty compared to 30 percent for South African imports.
Maigua further emphasized the reliable supply capacity and the globally
acclaimed buttery taste of Kenyan macadamia, making it attractive to US buyers.
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) executives
Geoffrey Kirundi and Wilson Muthaura also made a case for Kenyan tea,
underlining the country’s capacity to package at source to guarantee freshness,
traceability, and higher returns for farmers.
They noted Kenya’s push to expand exports of value-added teas, including
green, orthodox, and purple tea—the latter a Kenyan innovation prized for its
health benefits and premium market positioning.
The mission will also feature engagements with
the US Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the Governor of South Carolina,
and key private sector players.
The delegation is set to attend the North America Tea Conference, which
celebrates sustainable practices in the global tea industry.
In South Carolina, Kagwe held talks with
Milo’s Tea Company, America’s leading iced tea producer, accompanied by Phylis
Kandie, Advisor to the President on Commodities Market Development, as well as
KTDA, Ketepa, and Kipchimchim Tea officials.
Discussions centered on raising Kenya’s share of US tea imports, which
currently stand at just 2 percent.
The visit signals Kenya’s growing focus on direct-to-shelf exports, stronger farmer earnings, and sustainable supply chains.
