Nominated Senator Essy Okenyuri Wednesday tasked the government to explain the existing disparities in tea bonus payments in the country.
Some farmers, especially in Kisii and Nyamira Counties she said, continue to reap dismal bonuses over the years in comparison to other regions.
“We want the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mutahi Kagwe to explain why the disparity, the farmers in that region should enjoy the fruits of their labour just like their peers elsewhere ” Okenyuri told the Senate during a session Wednesday morning. .
Tea farming is considered major source of livelihoods for many farmers in Kenya
Kenya Tea Development Agency has since exonerated itself from accusations of manipulating bonus payments.
The rates paid by factories, the authority says in a statement are determined by several factors, among them income for the year.
Other factors are the quality of tea leaves delivered, production costs, and the average price the factory secured in the market.
The bonuses are divided into two tranches paid out as mini-bonus, which is the initial payout, and the second, larger payment.
Farmers in Gusii region are among those that protested the low bonuses in 2024.
They cited lack of transparency and fairness in the process.
KTDA however says the bonus rates at individual factories are determined by the factory directors.
“This responsibility lies with the directors and management of each factory, highlighting the decentralized nature of the payment system,” KTDS says in a statement.
On Wednesday, Okenyuri said despite farmers in Gusii doing all they can to improve their yields the bonus continue to remain low.
“It would be in order that they get explanations on why certain factories are paying more to their farmers while they are receiving peanuts,” she posed.
Currently the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) manages 71 tea factories across 21 counties, facilitating the growth and processing of tea.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
