Kalonzo pleads with Sudan to lift ban on Kenyan tea

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has appealed to the Government of Sudan to lift its ban on Kenyan tea imports, saying the measure has inflicted heavy losses on Kenya’s tea industry and farmers.

Kalonzo made the appeal after visiting the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi, where he presented a plea for the resumption of tea exports to the Sudanese market.

The ban, which took effect in March 2025, was imposed by Sudan following a deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Kalonzo said the ban had dealt a severe blow to Kenya’s tea sector, with Sudan having traditionally ranked among Kenya’s top five export destinations for the commodity.

“This morning, I visited the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Nairobi to personally present a plea to the Government of Sudan for the lifting of the ban on Kenyan tea imports,” Kalonzo said.

According to the Wiper leader, Sudan has historically purchased about 35 million kilogrammes of Kenyan tea annually, valued at approximately US$70 million (Sh9 billion).

The ban came at a significant cost to Kenyan exporters, with tea worth more than US$24 million (Sh3.1 billion) already in transit or awaiting shipment when Sudan halted imports.

Kalonzo said the situation also left 207 forty-foot containers stranded at the Port of Mombasa, further compounding losses for traders and exporters.

More than a year after the ban came into force, significant quantities of tea intended specifically for the Sudanese market remain stuck in Kenyan warehouses.

Kalonzo said more than 3.44 million kilogrammes of tea, valued at over US$10.3 million (Sh129 million), was still being held in warehouses in Mombasa.

The tea, he said, had been specially blended and branded for the Sudanese market, making it difficult for exporters to redirect the consignments to alternative markets.

This has led to substantial losses for exporters, depressed auction prices, and ultimately reduced the earnings of Kenyan tea farmers,” he said.

Kalonzo urged Sudan to reconsider the import restrictions and allow Kenyan tea to return to its market, arguing that the move would benefit both countries.

“I appealed to the Government of Sudan to consider lifting the ban and allowing the resumption of tea imports from Kenya,” he said.

He said restoring access to Sudan would help protect thousands of livelihoods across Kenya’s tea-growing regions while supporting exporters and preserving longstanding economic ties between the two countries.

The Wiper leader's intervention comes as Kenya continues to grapple with challenges facing its tea sector, including fluctuating international prices, rising production costs and the need to secure reliable export markets for farmers.

Kenya is one of the world's major tea exporters, with the commodity serving as a key source of foreign exchange and supporting millions of livelihoods directly and indirectly.

Kalonzo also expressed appreciation to Sudanese officials for receiving his delegation and engaging with the concerns raised.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to Ambassador Kamal Jabara Gubara and his team at the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan for warmly receiving us, listening to our concerns, and engaging with us constructively,” he said.

He expressed hope that the discussions would contribute to a solution and help restore tea trade between the two countries.