Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK) has added another chapter to its long list of accolades, securing two top honours at the 2025 North American Tea Conference: the Tea Sustainability Award and the Gold Medal Tea Competition.
The achievement placed the Kenyan producer in the international spotlight for both community-driven initiatives and tea excellence.
The sustainability recognition was awarded for EPK’s Special Needs Education Project (SNE), which is reshaping the learning environment for more than 700 pupils in seven schools across Nandi County.
Working hand in hand with parents, teachers, and government partners, the project has delivered tailored classroom furniture, expanded boarding facilities, specialised learning materials, and nutritional support aimed at making education more inclusive.
Company Director Leah Kibii Chirchir described the awards as a reflection of teamwork and community resilience.
“These international awards are a testament to the dedication of our teams on the ground and the resilience of the communities we serve,” Chirchir said.
“It underscores our vision of creating meaningful change that goes beyond business to touch lives and build inclusive opportunities.”
The latest honour continues a pattern of recognition for EPK. In 2024, the company was celebrated for its project What a Good Education Means.
Earlier, environmental projects earned it runner-up spots in 2019 and 2023, while in 2017, its efforts to support smallholder tea farmers brought home another award.
Alongside its community programmes, EPK was also recognised for the quality of its produce.
At the Gold Medal Tea Competition, the company’s Black CTC (BP1) from Kepchomo Factory was declared the best globally, a result that highlights the skill and consistency behind its teas.
Chirchir emphasised that the twin awards underscore EPK’s philosophy of blending quality with responsibility.
“These awards reflect both our heritage as quality tea growers and our responsibility as community partners,” she remarked.
“They affirm our belief that sustainability and quality go hand in hand, from the farm to the community, and ultimately to every cup of tea enjoyed globally.”
With both sustainability and quality awards in hand, EPK has reinforced its reputation as a leader in Kenya’s tea industry and beyond, demonstrating that excellence in farming can go hand in hand with social responsibility.
