Kenya Rainforest Alliance Suspension: Implications for the Tea Industry
- Christine Simon
- May 15
- 5 min read
Updated: May 31
Why the Kenya Rainforest Alliance Suspension Matters Now
In May 2025, the Kenyan government, through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) announced the suspension of Rainforest Alliance certification for tea factories due to the financial strain on producers.
This directive, issued under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, was officially communicated to stakeholders and has since circulated within industry networks. We have reviewed the circulated document, which confirms the government’s position that the cost of compliance with international certification frameworks poses a barrier, particularly for smallholder-run factories and cooperatives.
What makes this development especially significant is its timing. Globally, markets are moving toward more stringent ethical and environmental trade standards. Consumers and buyers are increasingly prioritising traceability, fair labor practices, and climate responsibility. Voluntary Sustainability Certification (VSC) has become increasingly important in international commodity sectors.
Against this backdrop, Kenya’s decision to pause one of the most recognised sustainability certifications invites a closer look at how the country intends to balance cost, credibility, and compliance in a changing trade landscape.
What Is Rainforest Alliance Certification?
Rainforest Alliance certification is an internationally recognised standard that promotes sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and social equity. For over a decade, Kenyan tea producers, especially those exporting to Europe and North America have adopted this certification to align with evolving buyer expectations around ethical sourcing.
How Much Does Rainforest Alliance Certification Cost?
Certification costs vary widely depending on the mandates involved, such as audit frequency, farm size, compliance systems, and the number of farmers covered, highlighting the non-linear nature of sustainability certification expenses in Kenya’s tea sector.
According to one industry insider:
For Kenyan tea factories, the cost of maintaining Rainforest Alliance certification is significant. These investments are often difficult to sustain, especially when premiums or commercial advantages linked to certification are either unclear or inconsistent.
For instance, one documented audit placed the cost of a single farm audit at approximately USD 30,000 (about KES 4 million). Over a three-year certification cycle, KTDA alone reportedly spends around KES 400 million (approx. USD 3.1 million), while the total cost across the entire industry is estimated at nearly KES 1 billion (approx. USD 7.7–8 million).
Government’s Position on the Suspension
The AFA has justified the Kenya Rainforest Alliance suspension by pointing to the mounting financial burden that the certification places on producers, particularly those in Kenya’s expansive smallholder sector. The government also cited concerns over the duplication of standards from multiple sustainability schemes, many of which share similar benchmarks but require separate audits and fees.
The Ministry is currently evaluating the development of a localised certification model, potentially one that maintains core sustainability principles while reducing compliance costs and administrative complexity.
It is important to note that the current directive primarily affects small-scale factories. Many larger private estates and plantations continue to hold Rainforest Alliance certification. The suspension mainly targets smallholder producers—those operating within cooperative structures or community-owned factories, which are most impacted by the cost and complexity of compliance.
Implications for Exporters and Market Access
Certain international markets, particularly in Western Europe and North America increasingly treat Rainforest Alliance or similar certifications as a baseline requirement for sourcing. In these regions, ethical procurement policies are often embedded in retail and institutional supply chains. As a result, Kenya’s suspension of certification could raise concerns among buyers who prioritise traceability, social responsibility, and environmental compliance.
However, the reality is more complex. While these certifications promote responsible sourcing, industry insiders have noted that some buyers in these very markets often demand certified tea at the lowest possible prices, rarely offering a premium that reflects the actual cost of compliance. This contradiction puts producers in a bind: they are expected to meet rigorous sustainability standards but are not adequately compensated for doing so.
The real impact of this suspension will depend on how quickly Kenya can introduce a credible alternative, and how open international buyers will be to recognising and supporting it in good faith.
Comparative Lessons from Other Tea Producers
Other major tea-producing nations have grappled with similar tensions between sustainability expectations and economic realities:
India developed the Trustea Code, a homegrown sustainability framework created in collaboration with NGOs, retailers, and producers. The model is more affordable, tailored to local realities, and still aligns with the expectations of many international buyers.
Sri Lanka continues to engage with global certification bodies, but has also built strong national branding through the “Ceylon Tea” lion logo. To reduce costs, the Sri Lanka Tea Board has accredited local audit agencies, lowering reliance on international auditors.
Rwanda and Malawi, both significantly smaller tea producers than Kenya, take a targeted certification approach. Certifications like Rainforest Alliance or Fair Trade are maintained only for factories serving buyers who explicitly demand and are willing to pay for such standards.
These examples suggest that Kenya may benefit from a hybrid model: one that sustains global market credibility while remaining accessible and cost-effective for smallholder-based producers.
One promising initiative that can support this transition is the broader adoption of the MAKE IT / MADE IN KENYA mark.
Spearheaded by Brand Kenya under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, this mark provides a unifying national identity for Kenyan products.
Incorporating it into a localised hybrid certification model could strengthen Kenyan tea's international visibility, reinforce origin trust, and complement cost-saving sustainability efforts.
People, Planet, Profit: What's at Stake?
The Rainforest Alliance certification is built around a “triple bottom line” philosophy, People, Planet, and Profit. The suspension prompts an important reflection: What happens when sustainability becomes unaffordable?
Kenya’s tea sector must now walk a delicate line. It needs to:
Ensure producers are not priced out of ethical trade.
Retain buyer confidence in key export markets.
And evolve a certification alternative that upholds local sustainability while remaining globally trusted.
If successful, Kenya could provide a blueprint for other developing economies facing similar challenges in sustainability compliance.
Response from the Rainforest Alliance
Responding to a recent inquiry via email, the Rainforest Alliance acknowledged the Kenyan government’s directive and shared the following statement:
“The Rainforest Alliance received a letter issued by the Government of Kenya on May 12, 2025, calling for the suspension of tea certification activities on Rainforest Alliance Certified operations in Kenya.
We are currently engaging with the State Department of Agriculture in Kenya to gain clarity and to work towards a joint resolution quickly. We are committed to working in close collaboration with all supply chain actors to effectively address the ongoing challenges in the Kenyan tea sector and to continue supporting our partners.
We do not know what prompted this action, other than there has been a change in the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya, and there is a new Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture. We hope to have more information soon.”
This statement highlights the current engagement between the Rainforest Alliance and Kenyan authorities as they seek clarity on the matter.
Looking Ahead
The suspension of Rainforest Alliance certification is more than a policy shift, it’s a moment of strategic opportunity. For Kenya, this is a chance to reimagine how its tea sector tells its sustainability story on the world stage.
By investing in its own tools, like a hybrid certification model and stronger adoption of the Made it Kenya mark, the industry can build resilience from within while still engaging global markets on credible terms.
The focus must now shift from reacting to the suspension toward designing a future-ready framework that reflects both Kenya’s realities and its ambitions. The path ahead will demand collaboration, creativity, and the confidence to define sustainability on Kenya’s own terms.
Additional Sources:
The Star (14 May 2025) – Kenya suspends Rainforest Alliance certification for tea factories over cost burden by Felix Kipkemoi
*Figures as of 2019 – AFA Tea Directorate – Implementation of Voluntary Sustainability Certification (VSC) in the Kenya Tea Industry: Status and Challenges, Presented by Willie Mutai (CEO Tea Board of Kenya), 2019. Link to presentation
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