President William Ruto during a joint media interview at Sagana State Lodge on March 31, 2025/ PCSPresident William Ruto has stated that Kenya continues to export tea products to Sudan despite the country announcing a ban on Kenyan exports weeks ago.
Speaking during a joint media interview on Monday evening, he reassured Kenyan stakeholders that trade relations remained active and that the nation continued to profit from tea exports in Sudan despite the ban, emphasizing that the demand for the product remained strong.
The President further claimed that the demand was attributed to the inability of the East African nation to sustain itself without Kenyan tea, which provided leeway for the industry to thrive.
“By the way, we are selling tea to Sudan, even after they said they are not buying our tea. The market itself has forced them. We sell tea today to Sudan, so there is no issue about selling tea, and that is why we are making money in the tea sector,” Ruto said.
He dismissed claims that Kenya was grappling with financial challenges, particularly in the agricultural sector, attributed to the import ban on tea products in Sudan.
On March 14, 2025, the government of Sudan officially banned the importation of Kenyan products into the country.
In a directive on March 11, 2025, the Ministry of Trade and Supply directed all concerned parties to implement the directive.
“The import of all products coming from the State of Kenya through all ports, crossings, airports and outlets is suspended, effective from this date until further notice,” Acting Minister Omar Ahmed Mohamed Ali said.
“All concerned parties must implement the decision.”
The decision followed a Cabinet resolution adopted over Kenya’s dalliance with Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Sudanese Sovereign Council also accused Nairobi of sponsoring the activities of the RSF and their allies.
“Based on Cabinet Resolution No. (129) of 2024 AD, and in accordance with the powers stipulated in Cabinet Resolution No. (104) of 2021 AD, and based on the recommendation of the committee formed by the Sovereignty Council to deal with the State of Kenya for hosting the Rapid Support Militia and its allies and sponsoring their activities and meetings, and to preserve Sudan’s supreme interests and confirm its sovereignty and protect its national security.”
