Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe with KTDA chairman Chege Kirundi (left) and KTDA CEO Wilson Muthaura (right). PHOTO UGC.
By CHEGE KIRUNDI
As head of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), I’ve had the rare chance to work closely with an array of stakeholders across our tea sector — from smallholder growers to global buyers.
Over time, one lesson has stood out: to keep our industry resilient and thriving, we must both innovate and diversify. Among the most exciting opportunities is the growth of tea tourism — an initiative that complements our agricultural foundation and capitalises on Kenya’s expanding reputation as a cultural and eco-tourism destination.
I’ve spent considerable time thinking about how developing tea tourism could strengthen our sector and broaden its economic base. I’m convinced the moment is right for KTDA to explore deliberate investments in this area.
I also recommend the Tea Research Foundation conduct an in-depth study to map out the prospects, challenges, and roadmap for integrating tea tourism into Kenya’s national strategy.
Tea tourism represents a unique chance to unite culture, agriculture, and environmental stewardship. It offers visitors an immersive experience: seeing our tea estates, meeting the farmers, and learning the stories behind each harvest.
In line with this vision, we’re planning to hire a curator to safeguard Kenya’s tea heritage and create a dedicated tea museum. This museum would display artifacts and tell Kenya’s rich tea story — a complex narrative that deserves recognition as part of our national heritage.
Kenya’s relationship with tea dates back to 1903, when the first seedlings arrived with British settlers. Since then we’ve grown into one of the world’s leading exporters, accounting for roughly 22% of global tea trade.
This heritage extends beyond agriculture. Kenyan tea blends colonial history with local tradition — a fusion to be celebrated and shared globally.
Picture guided walks through rolling highland tea fields where guests observe cultivation and picking, follow the leaf’s journey from withering to fermentation, drying to packaging, and participate in tastings or brewing workshops curated for connoisseurs.
Cultural elements can further enrich the visitor experience. Traditional ceremonies, storytelling, and live music could be woven into tours. Artisans producing tea-inspired pottery or sustainable packaging would add a creative-economy boost, while culinary pairings of Kenyan teas with regional dishes or themed events featuring tea-infused menus could appeal to food and travel enthusiasts worldwide.
A distinctive possibility lies in combining tea tourism with energy tourism. KTDA operates over a dozen hydropower plants in tea-growing areas. Fully functional sites — including Imenti, Lower Nyamindi, Gura, North Mathioya, Chania and Nyambunde — currently supply electricity to 17 tea factories and have increased production thanks to abundant rainfall.
Several other projects such as South Mara, Iraru, Rupingazi, Kipsonoi and Chemosit are under construction or development. Additional schemes at feasibility or tender stages include Kathita, Kiringa, Ragati, Gatamaiyu, Nyamasege, Taunet and Kapolet.
Plans are underway to add 16 more plants at locations such as Ura, Kiptiget and Nandi Forest, with installed capacities ranging from 1 MW to 9 MW.
These facilities deliver clean, affordable energy, reducing production costs for tea factories while also opening the door for educational energy-tourism activities. Visitors could learn how renewable power works while touring tea operations — blending sustainability, technology and agriculture in an engaging way.
This synergy invites further eco-tourism ventures, like building eco-lodges in licensed forest zones adjoining tea estates. Such lodges would offer immersive, low-impact stays, create local jobs, and allow tourists to participate in tree planting, wildlife conservation and community projects while enjoying Kenya’s scenic tea country.
We can also link our strategy to existing tourism frameworks. Kenya’s Tourism Board has already established circuits across Western and Eastern regions. By integrating with these routes we can bring more visibility to tea-producing areas and tap into existing visitor flows to boost eco- and tea-tourism hubs.
Crucially, this initiative could generate new income streams for more than 350,000 smallholder farmers under KTDA. By accessing Kenya’s multi-billion-shilling tourism market, tea and energy tourism could supplement household earnings and enhance rural resilience.
The time is right. Countries such as Vietnam and China have successfully embraced tea tourism. Kenya should do the same — not only to showcase our excellence but to shape the future of our tea industry.
A carefully designed pilot project, guided by a detailed feasibility study, would be a logical first step to gauge infrastructure needs, market potential, community readiness and environmental impact.
KTDA possesses the structure, partnerships and credibility to lead this shift. With support from government tourism bodies, conservation organisations, local communities and international tour operators, we can create a vibrant ecosystem where tea, energy, culture and nature intersect.
Kenya’s tea sector stands at a pivotal moment. As global markets shift and climate pressures grow, we must future-proof our industry. Tea and energy tourism are not side distractions but natural extensions of our core business — cultivating world-class tea while protecting our land and heritage.
The world already enjoys our tea. It’s time they came to see where it’s grown and meet the people who make it extraordinary.
Crucially, this initiative could generate new income streams for more than 350,000 smallholder farmers under KTDA. By accessing Kenya’s multi-billion-shilling tourism market, tea and energy tourism could supplement household earnings and enhance rural resilience.
The time is right. Countries such as Vietnam and China have successfully embraced tea tourism. Kenya should do the same — not only to showcase our excellence but to shape the future of our tea industry.
A carefully designed pilot project, guided by a detailed feasibility study, would be a logical first step to gauge infrastructure needs, market potential, community readiness and environmental impact.
KTDA possesses the structure, partnerships and credibility to lead this shift. With support from government tourism bodies, conservation organisations, local communities and international tour operators, we can create a vibrant ecosystem where tea, energy, culture and nature intersect.
Kenya’s tea sector stands at a pivotal moment. As global markets shift and climate pressures grow, we must future-proof our industry. Tea and energy tourism are not side distractions but natural extensions of our core business — cultivating world-class tea while protecting our land and heritage.
The world already enjoys our tea. It’s time they came to see where it’s grown and meet the people who make it extraordinary.
One of KTDA’s hydro power plants. PHOTO/UGC.
These facilities deliver clean, affordable energy, reducing production costs for tea factories while also opening the door for educational energy-tourism activities. Visitors could learn how renewable power works while touring tea operations — blending sustainability, technology and agriculture in an engaging way.
This synergy invites further eco-tourism ventures, like building eco-lodges in licensed forest zones adjoining tea estates. Such lodges would offer immersive, low-impact stays, create local jobs, and allow tourists to participate in tree planting, wildlife conservation and community projects while enjoying Kenya’s scenic tea country.
We can also link our strategy to existing tourism frameworks. Kenya’s Tourism Board has already established circuits across Western and Eastern regions. By integrating with these routes we can bring more visibility to tea-producing areas and tap into existing visitor flows to boost eco- and tea-tourism hubs.
