Kalonzo pleads with Sudan to lift ban on Kenyan tea
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has formally requested that the Sudanese government lift its ban on Kenyan tea imports. The ban, in place since March 2025, has caused significant financial losses for Kenyan farmers and exporters with millions of kilograms of tea currently stranded.
Why it matters
The tea industry is a vital component of the Kenyan economy, and the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Sudan is causing substantial economic strain on local traders.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is received by Sudanese ambassador to Kenya Kamal Jabara Gubara at the Nairobi embassy/HANDOUT Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has appealed to the Government of Sudan to lift its ban on Kenyan tea imports, saying the measure has inflicted heavy losses on Kenya’s tea industry and farmers.
Kalonzo made the appeal after visiting the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi, where he presented a plea for the resumption of tea exports to the Sudanese market.
The ban, which took effect in March 2025, was imposed by Sudan following a deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Kalonzo said the ban had dealt a severe blow to Kenya’s tea sector, with Sudan having traditionally ranked among Kenya’s top five export destinations for the commodity.
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