Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday, 12 March, vowed to bring an end to tea hawking, a malpractice that costs the tea sector billions of shillings in revenue each year.
While speaking before the Senate, Kagwe announced that the government would take action against individuals engaged in tea hawking by ensuring the implementation of the necessary legislation and enforcing the law. "Effective this week, or effective today, the hawking of tea across the country, Mr Speaker, will be stopped so that farmers can deliver their tea directly and to ensure that quality standards are met," Kagwe stated. "It is our intention to curb tea hawking malpractices, which lead to the processing of low-quality tea leaves.
This will be achieved by enforcing the Tea Registration and Licences Regulations, 2025," he added.
A photo of workers picking tea leaves on a plantation.
