Small-scale tea farmers could soon have a new digital channel for receiving and managing their payments after the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings invited firms to develop an e-wallet system for the sector.
KTDA has opened a tender seeking an eligible company to design, supply, install, customise, implement and commission a digital tea payment solution, with the successful bidder also required to provide ongoing support after the system becomes operational.
The project, listed under tender reference KTDA/125/2026, is expected to form part of KTDA’s efforts to improve the way payments are handled within the small-scale tea sector, which brings together farmers operating through its network of tea factories.
In an update on X on Tuesday, KTDA announced the tender and invited eligible firms to take part in the procurement process.
Companies interested in bidding for the project will first be required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of Sh3,000 for each tender before accessing the full tender documents.
The fee can be paid either in cash or through a banker’s cheque payable to Kenya Tea Development Agency (H) Ltd.
KTDA said the payment should be deposited into its designated account at Family Bank’s Corporate Branch located at KTDA Plaza along Moi Avenue in Nairobi.
After making the payment, interested firms can collect the tender documents from KTDA’s procurement office on the first floor of Majani Plaza along Koinange Street in Nairobi during normal office hours.
Firms may also request the documents electronically after paying the registration fee through the procurement email address indicated in the tender notice.
The agency has set September 15, 2026, as the deadline for submitting the completed bids.
Bidders are required to place their completed documents in sealed envelopes clearly marked with the tender description and reference number.
The submissions should be addressed to the Group Chief Executive Officer, KTDA Holdings Ltd, Majani Plaza, Koinange Street, Nairobi.
KTDA said the bids must be placed in the Tender Box at the reception on the ground floor of Majani Plaza before the deadline.
“Completed documents should be deposited in the Tender Box at the reception on Ground Floor, Majani Plaza, Koinange Street, Nairobi, to be received not later than Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 9:30AM local time.”
The opening of the bids will be conducted on the same day through a virtual meeting.
“Opening shall be on the same day virtually through a video link. Bidders shall be provided with the log-in credentials before the tender opening.”
The firm that wins the tender will not only be responsible for putting the digital payment platform in place but will also be expected to provide support once the system has been implemented and commissioned.
The tender covers the full process of developing and putting the e-wallet solution into operation, including its supply, installation, implementation, customisation and commissioning.
KTDA has also laid out rules for firms taking part in the procurement process and warned against attempts to influence the tender outside the required procedures.
“Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification from the tendering process.”
The agency's planned digital payment solution is intended for use in managing payments within the small-scale tea sector and will include an e-wallet system as part of the proposed platform.