Leaders from Bomet County have voiced strong concerns over what they describe as the continued exploitation of tea farmers, following the recent bonus payouts by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).
Senator Hillary Sigei, while addressing the issue, criticized the low returns and urged the National Assembly to urgently pass the Tea Amendment Bill, 2023. The legislation, already approved by the Senate in October 2024, seeks to liberalise the tea market, dismantle cartels, and inject transparency into the sector.
“It is unacceptable that our farmers, who work tirelessly throughout the year, continue to be paid peanuts while cartels and brokers laugh all the way to the bank,” said Sigei.
The recent KTDA bonus announcement sparked outrage, especially in Bomet, where factories recorded some of the lowest payouts in the country. Mogogosiek factory paid Sh12 per kilogram, while Kapkoros and Kapset paid Sh13 per kilogram. Farmers have expressed frustration, with some resorting to uprooting their tea bushes and turning to alternative crops.
“The cost of inputs keeps rising, but the bonus keeps shrinking. What is the point of growing tea anymore?” lamented a farmer from Bomet East.
KTDA defended the payouts, citing global price fluctuations and operational costs. However, leaders and farmers dismissed the explanation, arguing that Kenyan tea remains in high demand globally, with exporters and brokers continuing to make significant profits.
Nominated Senator Joyce Korir added that structural reforms are urgently needed to save the sector. She also warned against the tampering of Kenyan tea at auctions, which she said undermines the quality and market value.
KTDA, in its statement, highlighted investments in value addition, factory modernization, and new markets, including China, as part of efforts to stabilize the industry.
Despite these assurances, leaders insist that without urgent reforms, tea farmers will remain trapped in poverty while cartels reap the benefits.
