President William Ruto has revealed how a meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit in Zimbabwe led to a breakthrough for Kenyan tea exporters.
Ruto has announced the lifting of a 20-month ban on Kenyan tea imports, reopening an important export market for local producers and traders.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 11, the head of state said the decision followed his engagement with Sudan’s Prime Minister, Professor Kamil Idris, on the sidelines of the COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe.
“Following my engagement with Sudan’s Prime Minister, Professor Kamil Idris, on the sidelines of the COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, I am pleased that Sudan has lifted its ban on Kenyan tea imports, ending a restriction that had been in place for 20 months,” Ruto said.
Ruto Secures Major Win for Kenyan Tea
Ruto said the lifting of the restriction would restore opportunities for Kenyan tea exporters and support the livelihoods of farmers and their families.
The President welcomed the decision, describing it as a positive development for Kenya’s tea trade and bilateral relations with Sudan.
“Kenya welcomes and appreciates this decision, which reopens an important market for our tea, restores opportunities for our exporters and supports the livelihoods of our farmers and their families.”
He added that Kenya looked forward to strengthening diplomatic relations, expanding trade, and working together on regional peace and stability.
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The ban had been in place for 20 months, restricting Kenyan tea imports into the market.
Sudan’s 20-Month Ban on Kenyan Tea Imports
Sudan imposed a ban on all imports from Kenya on March 11, 2025, after Kenya decided to host leaders of the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nairobi.
The restriction suspended Kenyan goods entering Sudan through ports, airports, land crossings and retail outlets, cutting off an important market for Kenyan tea exporters.
At the time the ban took effect, goods worth more than KSh3.1 billion were either in transit or awaiting shipment. The disruption also left 207 forty-foot containers stranded at the Port of Mombasa.
Sudan had been importing approximately 35 million kilogrammes of Kenyan tea annually, with the trade valued at about KSh9 billion.
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By the time the ban was lifted, more than 3.44 million kilogrammes of tea worth over KSh1.3 billion remained in Mombasa warehouses.
On November 2, 2026, Sudan’s Sovereignty Council approved the lifting of the restrictions, paving the way for the government to reverse the trade ban.
On November 5, 2026, Sudan’s Cabinet issued a communication supporting the decision.
Three days later, Sudan’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Mahasin Ali Yaqoub, signed Ministerial Order No. 25 of 2026, officially lifting the ban with immediate effect.
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