How tea farmers in Nyeri are changing Kenya’s tea industry
A group of smallholder tea growers in Nyeri is proving what can happen when farmers organise, speak with one voice and demand a fairer deal - showcasing the power of the inspirational partnership between Nyeri Chai Farmers’ Association and Transform Trade.
Nyeri Chai Farmers’ Association (NCFA) was created to give smallholder tea farmers something they had long been denied: a stronger say in the decisions shaping their livelihoods. When NCFA began working with Transform Trade in 2017, the partnership focused on building farmer power, strengthening leadership and pushing for policies that better reflected the realities of tea growers. Today, Transform Trade continue to offer support, helping NCFA to grow their impact and promote fairness in the tea sector.
A landmark win for fairer prices
When proposed changes to Green Leaf Sales Agreements threatened to disadvantage farmers, NCFA organised growers to challenge them. Through legal action and negotiations with the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Authority, farmers secured a revised agreement — not just for Nyeri, but for smallholder tea farmers across Kenya.
The result was a major sector-wide win: a 25% increase in the green leaf price for tea growers in Kenya.
Edward Ngumi, tea grower and member of NCFA, on his farm in Nyeri, Kenya. Photo: Brian Otieno/Transform Trade
“If I were alone, it would be very difficult for my family and me. The association is our source of strength.”
Edward Ngumi, tea grower and member of NCFA
Building the skills to lead change
With Transform Trade’s support, NCFA leaders have taken part in organisational and financial management training, helping them run a more resilient, accountable and sustainable association.
Farmers have also strengthened their practical knowledge — from growing new tea varieties, pest and disease control, safe production practices and fertiliser use, to climate change adaptation, gender equality awareness, and investing in alternative income sources for greater security.
NCFA has also developed and launched a five-year strategic plan, created through a participatory process and aligned with the association’s constitution. For members, it is more than a document: it is a shared roadmap for growth, influence and long-term impact.
“With this document, I feel that every member, especially a potential member of the association, will see that we have some direction, and we are not just leading them into the dark.”
NCFA Board Member
Board Members of the Nyeri Chai Farmers Association convene a meeting at the Chinga tea factory in Nyeri County, Kenya. Photo: Brian Otieno/Transform Trade
More confidence, more representation, more visibility
Transform Trade supported elections for NCFA’s Board of Directors, helping farmers feel greater ownership of the association and confidence that their views are represented.
Members say they are increasingly confident speaking up, raising the issues they face and challenging leaders when needed. NCFA has also completed media training, with Transform Trade supporting the association to identify and develop media opportunities. As a result, NCFA representatives have shared farmers’ experiences through radio and TV interviews, raising the profile of smallholder tea growers beyond their own communities.
Transform Trade and NCFA continue to work together to amplify farmer’s voices and promote fairness in the tea sector throughout Kenya.
Looking ahead: NCFA’s plans for future impact
“NCFA will prioritise tackling the long-standing structural challenges facing smallholders, including persistent low green-leaf prices, limited transparency in business operations and information sharing, and weak collaboration and engagement mechanisms between the five factories that process NCFA members’ green leaf. Additionally, NCFA seeks to confront gender discrimination, and prevent sexual harassment by promoting a more inclusive, safe, and equitable environment for all farmers.
At the governance and policy level, NCFA will pursue more strategic lobbying and advocacy with local authorities, county leadership, national government institutions, and relevant regulatory bodies. The goal is to amplify farmers’ voices, secure fairer and more accountable value-chain practices, and ensure that smallholders have access to policies and programmes that promote climate adaptation, climate resilience, and environmentally sustainable tea production. Through these efforts, NCFA aims to position smallholder farmers as influential actors shaping the future of the Kenyan tea sector.”
NCFA Board Members, 2026