Kenyan tea growers, who supply half of Britain’s black tea, have warned that climate change is eroding crop yields and household incomes. Unpredictable weather—heavy rains in dry months, unseasonal heat, storms and drought—has lowered both the quantity and quality of tea, driving up global prices while leaving small‑holder farmers with little of the extra revenue.
Fintea, a union of five cooperatives in Kericho and Bomet, reported a 30 % drop in production during May and June compared with usual harvests. Manager Nelson Ngeno said the weather has “completely changed” and that a hail storm in January destroyed thousands of tea plants, costing the cooperatives 20,000 to 30,000 kg of tea daily for four months. The losses have left farmers struggling to maintain their farms.
Individual stories illustrate the hardship. Lilian Mutai Levin Langot of Kesebet, a 48‑year‑old smallholder, saw her annual earnings fall from about 120,000 Kenyan Shillings (≈ £692) to no more than 90,000 Kes (≈ £520) in 2026, and she has taken a loan to pay for healthcare and her son’s school fees. Paul Kipsigei Koech, 50, earns only 3,000–4,000 Kes (≈ £17–£23) a month, less than a pound a day, and is 80,000 Kes (≈ £462) in debt. Gladys Maiywa, also 50, and Philip Kitur, 66, report similar income pressures and the need to seek alternative work.
Fintea’s share of Fairtrade tea sales has fallen from about 5 % five years ago to under 1 %, reducing premium payments that could fund climate‑resilience projects. In response, Lidl announced it will source more Fairtrade tea from Fintea under a new “Way To Go!” line, potentially raising Fairtrade sales to around 2.6 % over the coming years. The Fairtrade Foundation’s annual “Fairtrade Fortnight” campaign urges businesses to pay higher prices, noting that only one in five Kenyan tea farmers earn enough to support their families.
