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A complete archive of economic policy analyses, tea sector insights, market reports, and research briefs by different authors.

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Agricultural Economics Debt Management Economic Policy Fiscal Policy IMF Programs
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EDITOR'S PICK

Smallholder Tea Farmer Incomes: The Real Story Behind the Bonus Numbers

Annual tea bonuses make headlines but the full income picture for Kenya's 680,000 smallholder tea farmers is far more complex. This analysis breaks down earnings, costs, and net returns.

Tea Insights  •  Machira Muturi  •  May 5, 2026

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POINTBLANK ANALYTICS TEA INSIGHTS
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
Climate Change and Tea Production: How Shifting Rainfall Patterns Are Affecting Yields

• MAY 5, 2026

Climate Change and Tea Production: How Shifting Rainfall Patterns Are Affecting Yields

Unpredictable rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and erratic weather patterns are increasingly threatening green leaf output in Kenya's highland tea zones. This report quantifies the impact.

Tea Industry Market Analysis Trade Agricultural Economics Fiscal Policy
POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
Kenya Tea Exports: New Markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East

• MAY 5, 2026

Kenya Tea Exports: New Markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East

Declining demand from traditional buyers is pushing Kenya's tea industry to diversify its export base. We examine emerging opportunities in Eastern Europe, the Gulf states, and Central Asia.

Economic Policy Tea Industry Market Analysis Trade Agricultural Economics
POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
KTDA Factory Performance: Which Regions Are Producing the Best Tea in 2025?

• MAY 5, 2026

KTDA Factory Performance: Which Regions Are Producing the Best Tea in 2025?

An in-depth review of KTDA factory output data reveals significant regional disparities in green leaf yields, quality scores, and farmer earnings across Kenya's tea-growing counties.

Public Finance Economic Policy Tea Industry Market Analysis Agricultural Economics
POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
Mombasa Tea Auction: March 2025 Performance Report and Price Trends

• MAY 5, 2026

Mombasa Tea Auction: March 2025 Performance Report and Price Trends

March 2025 auction results show a mixed performance across tea grades. Orthodox teas commanded premium prices while CTC grades faced headwinds from reduced demand in traditional markets.

Tea Industry Market Analysis Trade Agricultural Economics Fiscal Policy
POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Tea Insights • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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POINTBLANK ANALYTICS ECONOMIC POLICY
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
Public Debt Sustainability: Is Kenya's Debt-to-GDP Ratio a Cause for Alarm?

• MAY 5, 2026

Public Debt Sustainability: Is Kenya's Debt-to-GDP Ratio a Cause for Alarm?

Kenya's public debt has surpassed 70% of GDP, raising significant concerns about long-term fiscal stability. This in-depth brief examines the evolving composition of the debt, its maturity profile, and the overall sustainability of Kenya's debt stock in comparison to regional peer countries. We further analyze the implications of rising interest payments on public service delivery and explore potential pathways for structural fiscal consolidation to mitigate default risks.

Economic Policy IMF Programs Monetary Policy Debt Management Fiscal Policy
POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
Tax Revenue Shortfalls and the KRA's Challenge: Closing the Gap Without Killing Growth

• MAY 5, 2026

Tax Revenue Shortfalls and the KRA's Challenge: Closing the Gap Without Killing Growth

The Kenya Revenue Authority has consistently missed its collection targets. This analysis explores the structural weaknesses in Kenya's tax system and realistic reform pathways.

Public Finance Economic Policy IMF Programs Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy
POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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POINTBLANK ANALYTICS ECONOMIC POLICY
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
Monetary Policy Under Pressure: CBK's Rate Decisions in a High-Inflation Environment

• MAY 5, 2026

Monetary Policy Under Pressure: CBK's Rate Decisions in a High-Inflation Environment

The Central Bank of Kenya has navigated one of its most complex monetary policy periods in recent memory. This brief analyses the rate trajectory, exchange rate pressures, and what lies ahead.

Public Finance Economic Policy IMF Programs Monetary Policy Debt Management
POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
The IMF Debt Trap: How Structural Adjustment Is Reshaping Kenya's Public Services

• MAY 5, 2026

The IMF Debt Trap: How Structural Adjustment Is Reshaping Kenya's Public Services

Kenya's latest IMF programme comes with conditions that are quietly transforming how public services are funded and delivered. We examine the fiscal consolidation targets and their human cost.

Public Finance Economic Policy IMF Programs Monetary Policy Debt Management
POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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POINTBLANK ANALYTICS ECONOMIC POLICY
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Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights • Economic Policy • Kenya Analysis • Fiscal Policy • Debt & Development • Tea Sector • Market Insights •
Kenya's 2025/26 Budget: Revenue Pressures, Spending Priorities, and What Was Left Unsaid

• MAY 5, 2026

Kenya's 2025/26 Budget: Revenue Pressures, Spending Priorities, and What Was Left Unsaid

The 2025/26 national budget reveals a government caught between rising debt obligations, shrinking fiscal space, and mounting public expectations. This analysis unpacks the key revenue and expenditure decisions and what they mean for ordinary Kenyans.

Public Finance Economic Policy IMF Programs Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy
POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 • POINTBLANK • Economic Policy • Machira Muturi • May 5, 2026 •
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