Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui has called for caution in how the political class engages Sudan, a key market for Kenyan tea.
Speaking on Citizen TV, CS Kinyanjui said some of the key markets for Kenya are ‘sensitive”.
‘For example, our tea is mainly sold in the Arab countries — Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan and Iran — and part of it to Europe. Sin our diplomacy, we must treat those countries with respect and decorum,” Kinyanjui said.
He added that some comments or remarks can injure a whole market that supports an economy.
“Our request is that even as we hope that the country moves forward and the economy grows well, we all have a responsibility. Our personal differences at home should not lead us to make statements that injure our economic interests as a nation,” CS Kinyanjui said.
The CS further noted that while Kenya in playing mediator opened its doors to warring parties in Sudan, the move was not perceived positively, leading to the suspension of Kenya tea exports.
“For that reason we sent a mission to give our utmost position that we respect the government of the day and would want to continue to do business. That’s in progress and we really want to mend it,” he added.
But Kinyanjui called on the political class to find a way of “managing our conversations, differences”.
He noted that tea is grown across the country — in the Rift Valley and Central — Kenya and destroying Kenya’s export market would hurt Kenyans across board.
He noted that politics and economics are intertwined and Kenya should be proactive as the tea markets for Kenya may have security and or economic challenges.
Sudan suspended importing of Kenyan tea after Nairobi hosted rebel group Rapid Support Forces and allied groups.;
RSF and its allies launched a parallel government and constitution, a development Kenya’s Foreign ministry denied.
President William Ruto, however, maintained Kenya’s tea is still being bought in Sudan due to the demand. Once again, Sudan embassy in Kenya denied the position.
