Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe with KTDA chairman Chege Kirundi (left) and KTDA CEO Wilson Muthaura (right). PHOTO UGC.
By CHEGE KIRUNDI
As Chairman of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), I have had the unique privilege of engaging with diverse stakeholders in our tea value chain; from smallholder farmers to international buyers.
Over time, one reality has become increasingly clear: to ensure the long-term sustainability of our industry, we must innovate and diversify. One promising path lies in tea tourism, a sector that not only complements our core agricultural enterprise but also taps into Kenya’s growing appeal as a cultural and eco-tourism destination.
For some time now, I have been reflecting deeply on how tea tourism can bolster our sector’s sustainability and broaden our economic base. I strongly believe the time has come for KTDA to consider strategic investments in this area.
In fact, I would encourage the Tea Research Foundation to undertake a comprehensive study to help us understand the opportunities, challenges, and roadmap for integrating tea tourism into our national strategy.
Tea tourism in Kenya offers a compelling opportunity to merge cultural heritage, agriculture, and ecological stewardship. It creates a multi-dimensional visitor experience that can attract tourists from around the world, eager to explore our tea landscapes, meet the farmers behind the cup, and understand the stories rooted in every harvest.
As part of this vision, we are exploring the employment of a curator who will be responsible for archiving tea history and conceptualising a tea museum. This museum will house tea artifacts and tell the untold story of Kenya’s tea journey, a rich and complex narrative that deserves its rightful place in our national heritage.
Kenya’s tea story dates back to 1903, when the first seedlings were introduced by British settlers. Over the decades, we have risen to become one of the world’s leading tea exporters, contributing roughly 22 percent to the global tea trade.
This legacy is not only agricultural; it is deeply cultural. Kenyan tea reflects a blend of colonial heritage and local traditions, a fusion to be celebrated and shared with the world.
A tea picker in a tea plantation in Kericho. PHOTO/UGC
Imagine guided tours through lush, rolling tea gardens in the highlands, where visitors can witness first-hand the meticulous processes of cultivation and plucking. From withering to fermentation, drying to packaging, tourists can follow the leaf’s journey from bush to cup. For the tea connoisseur, curated tastings and brewing technique workshops offer a delightful exploration of flavour and craftsmanship.
Cultural integration is another exciting prospect. Traditional tea ceremonies, storytelling, and local music can be woven into the tourist experience. Collaborations with artisans, crafting tea-inspired pottery or woven packaging can boost the creative economy. Culinary pairings of Kenyan teas with local dishes, and themed events featuring tea-infused menus, can attract global food and travel enthusiasts.
A unique opportunity lies in integrating tea tourism with energy tourism. KTDA owns over 12 hydropower projects strategically located in tea-growing areas. Fully operational plants such as Imenti, Lower Nyamindi, Gura, North Mathioya, Chania, and Nyambunde currently supply power to 17 tea factories and have recently seen increased electricity production due to heavy rains.
Several others, including South Mara, Iraru, Rupingazi, Kipsonoi, and Chemosit, are under construction or development. Additional projects in feasibility or tendering stages include Kathita, Kiringa, Ragati, Gatamaiyu, Nyamasege, Taunet, and Kapolet.
KTDA also plans to establish 16 new plants, with additional prospective sites like Ura, Kiptiget, and Nandi Forest. The combined installed capacity ranges from 1 MW to 9 MW.
These facilities not only provide clean, renewable, and affordable energy, reducing factory operational costs, but also present an opportunity to incorporate energy tourism into our diversification strategy.
Visitors can learn about green energy production while touring tea factories. An educational component that blends technology, sustainability, and agriculture in an engaging way. This synergy opens the door for eco-tourism investments, including the development of eco-lodges in licensed forested zones adjacent to tea plantations.
One of KTDA’s hydro power plants. PHOTO/UGC.
These would offer immersive, sustainable experiences and create employment opportunities for local communities. Tourists could take part in tree planting, learn about wildlife conservation, and engage in community-based activities , all while enjoying the scenic beauty of tea country.
Our tourism strategy can also plug into existing frameworks. Kenya’s Tourism Board has already developed tourism circuits in both Western and Eastern Kenya. We can integrate into these circuits, bringing visibility to tea-growing regions and riding on established networks to drive traffic to our eco and tea tourism hubs.
Importantly, this initiative would provide additional revenue for over 350,000 smallholder tea farmers, who already benefit from KTDA’s infrastructure. By tapping into Kenya’s Ksh 4 billion annual tourism revenue, tea and energy tourism could become viable sources of supplementary income, boosting resilience and livelihoods in rural areas.
The time is ripe. Tea tourism has taken root in countries like Vietnam and China. Kenya must follow suit, not just to showcase our excellence, but to redefine the future of our tea industry.
A thoughtfully designed pilot programme, informed by a detailed feasibility study, should be our starting point. This will help us gauge infrastructure needs, market potential, community readiness, and environmental risks.
KTDA has the organisational framework, networks, and credibility to lead this transformation. With strategic partnerships, including government tourism agencies, conservation NGOs, local communities, and international tour operators, we can develop a dynamic ecosystem where tea, energy, culture, and nature converge.
Kenya’s tea sector stands at a crossroads. As global markets evolve and climate challenges mount, we must future-proof our industry. Tea and energy tourism are not distractions; they are natural extensions of what we already do, growing world-class tea while stewarding our land and heritage.
The world already drinks our tea. It’s time they came to see where it grows and meet the people who make it exceptional.
