Economic Policy

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Agricultural Economics Debt Management Economic Policy Fiscal Policy IMF Programs

Tea Insights

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.

Machira Muturi · May 5, 2026 · 3 min read

Showing 5 publications

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FEATURED

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

The Taxation Trap: How Revenue Policy Is Squeezing Ordinary Kenyans

Economic Policy

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.

Machira Muturi · May 5, 2026 · 3 min read

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Tea Insights

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.

May 5, 2026 · 3 min read

Tea Insights

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.

May 5, 2026 · 3 min read

Tea Insights

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.

May 5, 2026 · 3 min read

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

Kenya's Economy at a Crossroads: Hard Truths and Harder Choices

Economic Policy

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.

May 5, 2026

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

Public Debt Spiral — The Hidden Cost of Political Inaction

Economic Policy

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.

May 5, 2026

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

Beyond the IMF: Can Kenya Chart Its Own Economic Path?

Economic Policy

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.

May 5, 2026

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

Tea Sector Under Pressure: Who Pays the Price?

Economic Policy

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.

May 5, 2026

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