- Tensions, which have been building up escalated last week with farmers staging demonstrations outside the factories.
- They farmers are demanding explanations of how the bonuses were calculated and why some factories seem to receive more favorable rates than others.
A wave of protests has erupted across tea factories in the South Rift region ahead of the much-anticipated declaration of the final bonus payout. https://shorturl.at/OejD2
A wave of protests has erupted across tea factories in the South Rift region ahead of the much-anticipated declaration of the final bonus payout.
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is expected to make the announcement this week.
This follows the conclusion of the annual board meetings by the directors of respective factories on Tuesday.
The meetings, done in phases, started on September 9 and ended on September 17 and are aimed at reviewing and approving the financial records.
And, while the rates for each of the 54 tea factories spread across the country have been set to be officially made, reliable sources have intimated that those in the region are set to pay between Sh20 and Sh25 per kilo of green leaves delivered up to June this year.
This is a drop from what they paid last year, which ranged from Sh30 to Sh35.
Farmers in the region are expressing dissatisfaction with what they perceive as a lack of transparency and fairness in the process.
Tensions that had been building up escalated last week with farmers staging demonstrations outside the factories.
They are demanding explanations of how the bonuses were calculated and why some factories seem to receive more favourable rates than others.
During the demonstrations at the Mogogosiek tea factory in Konoin, Bomet, today, farmers stormed the factory and destroyed property.
It follows a similar pattern at the Kapkoros and Motigo tea factories.
"We work hard every season, but we see little reward for our efforts," said one of the farmers.
"We want to know why our bonuses fluctuate year after year yet they are high in other regions," another farmer quipped.
The protests have now garnered attention from political leaders, with Konoin MP Brighton Yegon calling for restraint.
He urged the aggrieved farmers to focus on other dispute-resolution mechanisms.
"I want to implore all farmers to exercise restraint. We will soon call for a forum with tea farmers to have a candid discussion on bonus pronouncement, separation, and other issues," he said.
The demonstrations come hot on the heels of mounting pressure by some farmers to have factories currently merged and separated.
Farmers in Kericho staged a demonstration last week demanding the separation of Litein and Chelal and Tegat and Toror tea factories.
In response, the agency said a committee will be established in the coming week to oversee its smooth implementation.
"We are going to follow due process of separation of satellite factories from their mother factories," a statement read.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh is set to tour the region Thursday to try and find a solution to the matter.
Rates paid by factories on bonuses differ based on income for the year, quality of leaf delivered, costs of production as well, and the average price of tea that the factory fetched at the market.
Farmers are currently paid Sh21.5 per kilo for the green leaves delivered to the factories, which is an increase of Sh1.5 from last year’s pay.