Co-op Bank Kenya Partners with KTDA to Offer Tea Farmers KSh 1.2b in Mobile Loans
- Co-op Bank and Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) have partnered to empower over 260,000 smallholder tea farmers
- According to the bank, the farmers will gain instant mobile loans through a new KSh 1.2 billion credit initiative
- Co-op Bank CEO Gideon Muriuki emphasised the lender's leadership in agriculture with KTDA Magazine platinum sponsorship
Co-operative Bank of Kenya and Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) have partnered to support and empower tea farmers.
Source: UGC
The lender cemented its leadership in the agricultural sector with a platinum sponsorship at the inaugural KTDA Magazine launch held between July 3 and July 4, 2025.
The event, held at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, brought together representatives of more than 260,000 smallholder farmers, tea factory directors, and industry stakeholders under KTDA.
The bank facilitated the launch of the magazine aimed at providing farmers, partners, and stakeholders with deeper insights into Kenya's tea industry and opportunities for active participation in its growth.
Co-operative Bank Group Managing Director and CEO Gideon Muriuki emphasised the bank’s commitment to the co-operative and agricultural sector in Kenya.
"Through our comprehensive financial solutions, we continue to empower the more than 260,000 smallholder tea farmers who form the backbone of Kenya's tea industry, a key contributor to our national economy,” said Muriuki.
How the bank will support tea farmers
The lender revealed a partnership with Greenland Fedha to empower smallholder tea farmers.
This will enhance access to credit across the tea sector, giving farmers access to instant loans ranging from KSh 100 to KSh 20,000 directly via mobile money.
The mobile-enabled financing model is transforming how smallholder farmers access capital, providing timely support when it’s needed most.
The partnership will provide farmers with access to approximately KSh 1.2 billion in short-term credit facilities, removing traditional barriers to agricultural financing and enabling real-time investment in inputs, tools, and farm improvements.
Head of Corporate Banking at Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Vincent Kihara, said the partnership with KTDA is not just about financing – it’s about fuelling progress for every farmer.
"From mobile credit to green energy and tailored financial tools, we are enabling farmers to grow stronger, faster, and more sustainably,” said Kihara.
Source: UGC
As a key financial partner for all nine KTDA subsidiaries and the majority of Kenya's tea factories, Co-operative Bank manages a comprehensive suite of services, including payment processing for tea proceeds, working capital financing, cash management solutions, and advisory services.
The bank's strategic focus on the tea sector aligns with KTDA's management of more than 55% of Kenya's tea production, making this partnership crucial for the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farming families across the country.
Co-op Bank partners with real estate firm
Meanwhile, the lender has partnered with Finsco Africa to enhance real estate investments in Kenya.
The deal, signed on April 17, 2025, is aimed at opening opportunities for individuals and investors in the sector.
Co-operative Bank Head of Mortgage Finance Japhet Ponda said the partnership supports the government's affordable housing agenda through financing from the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
