Journal of Management and Sustainability; Vol. 2, No. 2; 2012 ISSN 1925-4725 E-ISSN 1925-4733 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Sustainable Methods of Addressing Challenges Facing Small Holder Tea Sector in Kenya: A Supply Chain Management Approach Elias Kiarie Kagira1, Sarah Wambui Kimani2 & Kagwathi Stephen Githii3 1 Department of Business Administration, Africa Nazarene University, Nairobi, Kenya 2 The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya 3 Department of Business Administration, Africa Nazarene University, Kenya Correspondence: Elias Kiarie Kagira, Department of Business Administration, Africa Nazarene University, PO Box 53067, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: 254-713-209-606. E-mail:
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[email protected] Received: December 21, 2011 Accepted: February 29, 2012 Online Published: May 24, 2012 doi:10.5539/jms.v2n2p75 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jms.v2n2p75 Abstract This Conceptual paper addresses the challenges facing the small holder tea sector in Kenya. It provides background information about tea growing in Kenya, its export performance, and organizational structure. It then categorizes the main challenges into five and provides some solutions to the challenges, borrowing from some supply chain management practices to culminate into competitive strategies. In the face of declining and shifting competitiveness of the small holder tea sector in Kenya, this paper identifies the special role of supplier and customer relationships, value addition, information technology, information sharing, flexibility in internal operations/processes, upgrading of tea seedlings, proper coordination, institutionalization, policy reforms, training, monitoring marketing environment, strategic decisions, irrigation, venturing in new markets through partnership, and civil society involvement as competitive supply chain strategies.