NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 4 – Kenya has opened discussions with American retail giant Walmart for the purchase of local tea, macadamia nuts, and other products.
The week-long trade mission is being led by Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.
“On the first day, the delegation met with retail giant Walmart, which operates over 40,000 outlets across the U.S., to open doors for Kenyan tea, macadamia nuts, and other exports,” the Ministry said in a statement.
MACNUT CEO Jane Maigua showcased Kenya’s macadamia as a premium product, naturally grown without chemicals, sourced from over 200,000 smallholder farmers, and benefiting from a 10 percent duty compared to 30 percent for South African nuts.
Maigua emphasized Kenya’s reliable supply capacity and globally renowned buttery taste profile, making it attractive for American buyers.
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) leaders Geoffrey Kirundi and Wilson Muthaura also pitched Kenya’s ability to package tea at source, ensuring freshness, traceability, and higher returns for farmers.
Kenya, the world’s largest exporter of black tea, is pushing to expand sales of value-added varieties, including green, orthodox, and purple tea—the latter a Kenyan innovation recognized globally for its health benefits and premium pricing.
The mission will also include engagements with the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the Governor of South Carolina, and private sector players. Delegates will also participate in the North America Tea Conference, which highlights sustainable practices in the industry.
In South Carolina, CS Kagwe held talks with Milo’s Tea Company, the leading U.S. iced tea producer, accompanied by Phylis Kandie, Advisor to the President on Commodities Market Development, KTDA executives, Ketepa, and Kipchimchim Tea. The discussions explored ways to raise Kenya’s share of U.S. tea imports, which currently stand at just 2 percent.
