TBK at 100: Heritage week kicks off at Karatina University to celebrate tea industry achievements in Kenya

The celebrations are meant to highlight achievements made since 1903 when tea was first planted in Kenya in Limuru, Kiambu County by white settlers for experimental purposes. 

By 1924 tea cultivation had attained a commercial production level, necessitating the establishment of a regulatory body, which metamorphosised into the current Tea Board of Kenya.

“The Kenya Tea Centenary Celebrations mark a pivotal moment in the country’s history. As one of Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners, tea plays a crucial role in national development, supporting both devolution and Vision 2030. These celebrations will serve as a platform to recognize tea’s immense contributions to Kenya’s socio-economic fabric, while also focusing on future sustainability and growth,” TBK states.

TBK is a State Corporation in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development established by Tea Act No. 23 of 2020 to develop, regulate and promote the tea sub-sector. 

Currently, commercial tea in Kenya is grown in counties that include Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans-Nzoia, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, and Meru.

Today, Kenya’s tea sector is one of the country’s leading foreign exchange earners, contributing about 23 per cent of total foreign exchange earnings and two per cent of Agricultural GDP.

TBK estimates that Kenya produces over 450 million kilograms of tea every year, generating more than Ksh120 billion in export revenue and Ksh22 billion in local sales.

The industry directly and indirectly supports approximately five million people, with an estimated 650,000 smallholder tea farmers depending on tea production, making the sector one of the country’s most important industries.

Among the main activities that will take place during the event in Karatina University include tea history exhibition, which entails displaying artefacts, photographs, and key milestones from 1924 to 2024, focusing on the colonial era, post-independence growth, and modern-day achievements.

The Karatina University event will also feature educational tours, tea tasting, workshops and panels and youth outreach.

Educational tours will entail guided field trips to local tea farms to provide participants with firsthand insights into tea cultivation and production processes.

Tea tasting will see participants experience different varieties of Kenyan tea, complemented by a cultural exhibition of traditional tea ceremonies from various communities while workshops will be focused on sustainable farming practices, innovations, and the future of the tea industry, featuring experts, environmentalists, and industry leaders.

Youth outreach will entail activities such as tea recipe competitions, youth debates on tea’s role in environmental conservation, and digital content creation promoting tea.

“Heritage Week aims to showcase tea as more than just a beverage, positioning it as a symbol of national identity and sustainable development,” TBK states.

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