RUTO GIVES MOSES KURIA ANOTHER BIG ROLE

In front of several dignitaries, President William Ruto flagged off the first shipment of Kenyan tea to Accra, Ghana. A deal was made between the two countries, allowing Kenya to begin sending tea to Ghana.

At the flag-raising ceremony held at KICC were participants from the African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Along with Betty Maina, the departing CS for Trade and Industries, Moses Kuria, the CS designate for the same portfolio, also attended the event.

In his speech, President William Ruto declared that the ministry of trade will no longer function as usual going ahead. The ministry would work to introduce Kenyan agricultural products to new markets, according to the Head of State.

Only 5% of Kenya’s value-added tea, according to Ruto, is exported, leaving growers with minimal profits. He asserts that Kenya must export at least 50% of its value-added tea, and that is the responsibility of the ministry of trade.

“There will be changes to how the Ministry of Trade and Industries functions. We need to increase our tea with added value for export from 5% to at least 50%. This is the only way we can ensure that our farmers get good tea returns. Despite producing three times as much tea as we do, our competitors’ farmers earn three times as much from tea exports “said Ruto.

Moses Kuria was warned by the president that the work he must do will be difficult and take a lot of commitment. Ruto suggested establishing a big value-added tea business in the Ndongo Kundu district of Mombasa.

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