Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has criticized President William Ruto over the sharp drop in tea farmers’ bonuses this year, linking the decline to what she described as misplaced reliance on agriculture as Kenya’s economic backbone.
In a statement shared on her X account on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Wamae argued that agriculture can only guarantee food security but cannot sustain the economy in today’s global market. She pointed to diminishing returns on land, reliance on rain-fed farming, and lack of product differentiation as persistent challenges that leave farmers working hard for minimal reward.
“Tea farmers, the fall in your bonuses can be attributed to President Ruto’s failure to acknowledge that investment in agriculture will NEVER be our economy’s saving grace in this modern global economy,” Wamae stated.
Her remarks came just as the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) explained the decline in bonus payments. In a press release, KTDA attributed the reduced payouts to weaker international demand, rising operational costs, and shifts in currency exchange rates.
The agency noted that in 2024, the Kenyan shilling averaged Ksh144 against the US dollar, compared to Ksh129 this year. This stronger shilling meant that even with stable international tea prices, earnings in local currency dropped significantly.
Regional figures reflected the hit to farmers’ incomes. In the East of the Rift Valley, Kiambu recorded Ksh371 per kilo, down Ksh46 from last year, while Murang’a earned Ksh376, a drop of Ksh42. The decline was more severe in the West of the Rift Valley, with Kericho at Ksh245 per kilo, down by Ksh101, and Nyamira at Ksh266, a drop of Ksh106.
KTDA urged farmers not to politicize the issue, emphasizing that the final bonus is what remains after costs for processing, marketing, and logistics. The agency encouraged disciplined management, high-quality leaf production, and good agricultural practices as key to weathering the global market challenges.
