Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has embarked on a week-long trade mission in the United States aimed at expanding export opportunities for Kenyan agricultural products.
The delegation has already held high-level talks with retail giant Walmart, which operates more than 40,000 outlets across the U.S., in a bid to secure shelf space for Kenyan tea, macadamia nuts, and other produce.
Speaking during the mission, Macadamia Association of Kenya (MACNUT) CEO Jane Maigua showcased Kenyan macadamia as a premium, chemical-free product sourced from over 200,000 smallholder farmers. She highlighted Kenya’s competitive edge, noting the country enjoys a 10% duty rate compared to South Africa’s 30%, coupled with a reliable supply and a globally admired buttery taste profile.
At the same time, leaders from the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) — Geoffrey Kirundi and Wilson Muthaura — emphasized Kenya’s growing capacity to package tea at source. This, they noted, enhances freshness, traceability, and farmer earnings. Kenya, already the world’s largest exporter of black tea, is now keen on expanding exports of value-added varieties such as green, orthodox, and the uniquely Kenyan purple tea, which is gaining global recognition for its health benefits.
The U.S. tour also includes engagements with the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the Governor of South Carolina, and private sector stakeholders. The delegation will further participate in the North America Tea Conference, a platform that celebrates sustainable practices in the tea industry.
While in South Carolina, CS Kagwe met with Milo’s Tea Company, the leading U.S. iced tea producer, alongside Phylis Kandie, Presidential Advisor on Commodities Market Development, as well as representatives from KTDA, Ketepa, and Kipchimchim Tea. Discussions focused on strategies to boost Kenya’s share of U.S. tea imports, which currently stands at only 2%.
The mission reflects Kenya’s commitment to direct-to-shelf exports, sustainable supply chains, and better earnings for farmers, positioning the country as a leading global supplier of premium agricultural products.
