Arise Media 
BY STEPHEN KILONZO
A diplomatic standoff between Kenya and Sudan has triggered a trade crisis, leaving tea farmers and factory leaders in Embu County staring at major losses after Sudan abruptly banned Kenyan tea imports.
Sudan’s Ministry of Trade and Supply announced the ban on March 11, citing national security concerns after Kenya hosted political talks involving Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—a move Khartoum termed hostile.
The fallout has been swift. Over 2,000 containers of tea valued at Sh1.3 billion are now stranded at the Port of Mombasa, with others stuck mid-transit. Sudan was Kenya’s 12th largest tea buyer in 2024, having imported 10.7 million kilograms worth Sh2.3 billion, mainly the BP1 grade.
In Embu County, where tea farming sustains thousands, anxiety is mounting.
“The impact is immediate and devastating. Farmers who rely on BP1 tea now face an uncertain future. We urge swift diplomatic intervention,” said Mwenje Njeru, Chairperson of Mungania Tea Factory.
Kathangariri Tea Factory Chairperson Moses Kamau fears farmers could earn less than half of last year’s Sh50 per kilogram bonus. “If this continues, many may abandon tea farming altogether,” he warned.
Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba criticized the government’s silence and called for urgent action to resolve the standoff before livelihoods are destroyed.
Former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti called for a shift in strategy. “We must invest in value addition—tea cosmetics, wellness products, herbal lines—to protect our industry from external shocks,” he said.
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is now seeking new markets, but rerouting the BP1-specific tea has proved challenging.
Industry leaders are appealing for a grace period to clear tea consignments already en route to Sudan and are urging the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture to engage Khartoum and resolve the impasse.
Without urgent intervention, Embu’s tea economy could wither under the weight of geopolitics.
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