Nyayo Tea Zones to set up specialty tea factory in Kirinyaga

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By Philip Mwakio and Patrick Beja

The Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation has announced plans to set up a new plant to cater exclusively for specialty teas.

The new factory will be built in Kirinyaga District, and will start operations in 2014.

“ We have ready market for orthodox teas and in line with product diversification, we plan to have our own packaging plant as we aspire for value addition,” said Charles Mucheke, the Corporation’s General Manager incharge of operations on the sidelines of the 1st Africa Tea Convention and Exhibition being held in Mombasa.

Started in 1986, The Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation operates the Kipchabo Tea Factory in Nandi Central District. The factory processes and markets tea produced from Nandi South, Nandi North, Kakamega and Kaptarakwa zones, producing 1.5 million kilogrammes of green leaf made tea per annum.

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“We have already started taking our tea to the Mombasa Tea Auction,” Mucheke said.

Speaking separately, the Corporation’s Public Relations officer, Wallace Gichunge said that the construction of the Kipchabo Tea Factory has placed the corporation strategically as one of the top players in the tea industry.

“This is in line with one of the key strategies of the Vision 2030, which is to increase market access through value addition by processing, packaging  and branding the bulk of agricultural produce,” Gichunge said.

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