For more than a year, Kenyan tea destined for Sudan has remained locked out of one of its biggest export markets, leaving farmers and exporters counting heavy losses. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is now calling on the Sudanese government to reverse the import ban, saying reopening the market would ease pressure on the tea sector and restore a trade relationship that has supported both countries for years.
Kalonzo made the appeal after visiting the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi, where he delivered a formal request asking the Sudanese government to allow Kenyan tea imports to resume.
Sudan suspended imports of Kenyan tea in March 2025 after diplomatic relations between the two countries deteriorated, cutting off a market that had long been among Kenya's leading buyers of the commodity.
According to Kalonzo, Sudan has for years imported about 35 million kilogrammes of Kenyan tea annually, with the trade valued at around US$70 million (Sh9 billion).
“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.
He noted that when the restrictions were announced, tea worth more than US$24 million (Sh3.1 billion) had already been shipped or was waiting to leave for Sudan, leaving exporters with huge financial losses.
Kalonzo said the ban also left 207 forty-foot containers stranded at the Port of Mombasa, worsening the situation for businesses that depended on the Sudanese market.
He added that despite the passage of more than a year, large quantities of tea remain unsold because they were specially prepared for Sudanese consumers.
According to the Wiper leader, more than 3.44 million kilogrammes of tea valued at over US$10.3 million (Sh129 million) is still being stored in warehouses in Mombasa after exporters failed to find alternative buyers.
He explained that the tea had been blended and packaged specifically for Sudan, making it difficult to redirect the consignments to other international 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 its decision, saying the return of Kenyan tea to the Sudanese market would benefit traders, exporters and tea-growing communities.
“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 the trade would help secure the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on tea while strengthening the long-standing economic ties shared by Kenya and Sudan.
The appeal comes at a time when Kenya's tea industry continues to face challenges such as unstable global prices, rising production costs and increasing pressure to secure dependable export markets.
Tea remains one of Kenya's leading foreign exchange earners and supports millions of livelihoods across the country through farming, transport, processing and trade.
Kalonzo also thanked Sudanese officials for engaging with his delegation during the meeting at the embassy.
“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 optimism that the engagement would help pave the way for the return of Kenyan tea exports to Sudan.