Multinational tea firms launch US$7.7M welfare trust fund to support tea communities 

KENYA – Multinational tea companies have unveiled plans to establish a KES 1 billion (US$7.7M) welfare trust fund targeting communities in Bomet and Kericho counties.  

The initiative is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable development and improve social well-being in tea-growing regions of Kenya. 

The trust will be financed through an endowment contributed by Lipton Teas and Infusions in partnership with Browns Investments. The move follows the successful transfer of Lipton Teas and Infusions’ tea estates to Browns Investments in December 2024.  

The transaction allows both entities to concentrate on their core operations while driving long-term community impact. 

Lipton Teas and Infusions CEO Pierre Laubies emphasized that the prosperity of tea estates is intertwined with the well-being of surrounding communities.  

“Our partnership with Browns Investments ensures significant investment in local social needs, making it essential that the voices of potential beneficiaries are heard,” Laubies said. “This community needs assessment is a crucial step in guiding the trust’s work.” 

Browns Investments Chief Executive Director Kamantha Amarasekera added, “We are committed to the sustainable development of both the tea estates and neighbouring communities. The establishment of the community welfare trust reflects our long-term vision for the region.” 

A Board of Trustees is being formed to oversee the trust. It will consist of eight members: one representative from Lipton Teas and Infusions, two from Browns Investments, four from community interest groups, and one independent member. This diverse composition is aimed at ensuring broad stakeholder representation and accountability. 

To guide the trust’s operations, community input is being collected through a collaborative needs assessment. Experts from the Human Impact Pathway—a nonprofit social venture affiliated with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)—have been commissioned to lead this process.  

Their work, supported by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security since 2018, applies a human security approach focusing on grassroots analysis and people-centred development. 

The Human Impact Pathway team has begun gathering data through interviews, surveys, group discussions, and community workshops. The findings will be compiled into a report within three months to inform the allocation of resources and ensure the trust addresses the most urgent and relevant community needs. 

The welfare fund is expected to serve more than one million residents in the tea-growing areas of Bomet and Kericho.  

Through this initiative, Lipton Teas and Browns Investments aim to strengthen ties with local communities and foster long-lasting, inclusive growth. 

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