UoK Signs a Collaborative Agreement with Lipton

Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba; Cabinet Secretary for Education graced the signing of Collaborative Agreement between University of Kabianga and Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy on Monday 5th May, 2025.

The Academy was launched by the President of the Republic of Kenya; Dr. William Ruto at State House on 22nd February, 2024. The academy has since graduated fourty one (41) students who pursued a short course in Integrated Tea and Entrepreneurship Management and eighty (80) students on IPM.

The partnership between Lipton Teas and Infusions and University of Kabianga through The Ministry of Education, will ensure a shared responsibility in funding, expertise and facilitate international academic and industry partnerships e.g. Cranfield University and Oxford University, University of Amsterdam, UK Tea and Infusions Association.

The Ministry of Education will provide regulatory oversight, accreditation and administrative support. Local stakeholders will be sought within Kenya (e.g. TRI, KTDA, Tea Board of Kenya, and County Governments) and international community to play a key role in the success of the Academy.

The collaboration agreement for the Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy is a strategic initiative that will transform Kenya's tea industry through modern training, research, and innovations on a global scale. 

As a consequence, this will help generate more high-quality tea at better prices, positively impacting the livelihoods of communities while leveraging on environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.

Present during this ceremony were the University Council led by the Chairman Prof. Bosire Monari Mwebi, Management Board and Senate members. Present also was His Excellency Dr. Eric Mutai; Governor for Kericho County, Kericho County Director of Education, Kericho County members of Interior, Hon. Dominic Mutai; MCA Kabianga Ward, Mr. Livingstone Sambai who represented Lipton, Principals of Technical Training Institutions of Kericho TTI, Belgut TTI, Kericho National Polytechnic and Sotik TTI and Chief Principal of Kabianga School.

In his remarks the Cabinet Secretary emphasized the need for the Universities to lead in providing solutions to various problems and challenges faced by humans. He further said that the Lipton Tea Academy will provide the necessary research and innovations that will increase tea production and value addition that will boost earnings to the farmers. 

The ceremony was officiated by the University Legal Officer Ms. Ayuma Robi.