Explainer: Will the Tea Levy Regulations affect farmers’ earnings?

The Tea Levy Regulations, 2026, which have been reintroduced in Parliament after the original sponsor, Gatundu South MP George Kagombe, was found to have conflict of interest as a zonal director of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), have sparked a storm in the tea industry.

Small-scale tea growers and other industry stakeholders have raised several questions about the proposed levy, including whether it amounts to double taxation and whether farmers will ultimately bear the cost. The tea industry is a key foreign exchange earner for the country.