Wamuchomba Celebrates as High Court Deals Blow to Tea Levy: “It Is Done”

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has welcomed the suspension of the tea levy on imports and exports after the High Court issued an interim order stopping its collection.

Wamuchomba announced the development with a brief but emphatic caption, “It is done,” sharing a notice issued by the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) on October 27, 2026.

In the notice, the Board confirmed that the court had restrained it from collecting or enforcing the levy introduced under the Tea (Levy) Regulations, 2026, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The order took immediate effect, prompting the Board to suspend demands and collection of the levy. The TBK also said it had asked the Kenya Revenue Authority to halt collection on tea imports and exports in compliance with the court directive.

The suspension offers temporary relief to tea buyers, exporters and importers affected by the levy. However, the court is yet to make a final determination on the matter, meaning the legal battle remains unresolved.

The Board further clarified that traders must continue meeting other requirements, including licensing, registration, permits, quality standards and customs procedures.

Wamuchomba’s reaction signalled her satisfaction with the court’s intervention, which has temporarily stopped the levy as the dispute proceeds through courts.

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