Kenyan tea farmers are poised to benefit from expanded access to lucrative international markets after President William Ruto secured a major export and marketing agreement during French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Nairobi.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, seeks to elevate Kenya’s specialty tea industry, particularly the increasingly popular purple tea variety, into premium global consumer markets while boosting long-term earnings for small-scale farmers.
Speaking after the signing, Gatanga Industries chairman Karanja Kinyanjui said the partnership would finally connect farmers to buyers who appreciate the true value of their produce.
“For years, farmers have cultivated a unique product without reliable access to markets that understand its worth. This deal changes that reality,” he said.
Partnership to Open European Premium Tea Markets
The agreement brings together French tea retailer Palais des Thés, Gatanga Industries Limited, and Equity Group Holdings Plc in a collaboration designed to move Kenya away from bulk tea exports and into high-value branded specialty tea markets.
Under the arrangement, Palais des Thés will source Kenyan specialty tea varieties including:
- Purple White
- Purple Golden
- Purple Simba
- Purple Black
Beyond purchasing the teas, the French company will also market Kenyan products through its international retail and educational platforms, helping position Kenyan tea within elite consumer segments where authenticity, sustainability, and origin command premium pricing.
The partnership is expected to strengthen trade relations between Kenya and France while creating more stable demand and improved prices for farmers.
Equity Group Pushes Farmer Integration into Global Trade
The initiative was facilitated by Equity Group Holdings Plc through its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), a programme focused on enhancing value addition and integrating African producers into global supply chains.
Equity Group CEO James Mwangi said the agreement represents a shift towards ensuring farmers directly benefit from international trade opportunities.
“This partnership is about transforming the livelihoods of smallholder tea farmers by connecting them to premium global markets while ensuring value addition starts at the source,” said Mwangi.
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He added that the model is designed to ensure farmers become active players in structured international trade systems that reward quality and consistency.
Kenya’s Purple Tea Gains Global Attention
A key focus of the agreement is the promotion of Kenya’s purple tea, a locally developed tea variety created by the Kenya Tea Research Institute.
Renowned for its rich antioxidant content and distinct flavour profile, purple tea has increasingly gained recognition as a premium export product in global specialty tea markets.
Founder and CEO of Palais des Thés, François-Xavier Delmas, described Kenyan purple tea as both a high-quality product and a compelling story of heritage and craftsmanship.
“Kenyan purple tea represents exceptional quality, but also tells a unique story of origin, climate, and expertise. Our goal is not simply procurement, but elevating its global profile,” Delmas said.
The agreement is expected to provide farmers with more reliable markets, stronger pricing structures, and greater participation in premium international value chains.