Mombasa tea auction will be automated by the end of the year, bringing to an end the old manual system that has been in use for decades.

East African Tea Traders Association (Eatta) managing director Edward Mudibo said they are currently procuring a software developer, a process expected to come to end by Thursday.

Mr Mudibo said the successful bidder will be awarded the contract by March this year to commence the process of automating the world’s second largest auction.

“Procurement of software developer has started and is coming to an end this week. We expect the works to start in mid-March with the auction expected to be fully automated by December,” said Mr Mudibo.