In September 2025, the regional auction in Mombasa traded its maiden batch of specialty orthodox tea as part of a strategy aimed at curbing plummeting fortunes. The auction had recorded a pile up of unsold stocks of black tea over two years, with farmers ‘earnings taking a hit.
George Omuga, the Managing Director of the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA), which runs the auction, spoke to the Business Daily about the headwinds facing tea farmers and traders and the plans to improve the industry’s performance.
