50,000 tea pluckers jobless due to machines, Mutai tells Ruto

Kericho Governor Eric Mutai had two big asks for President William Ruto at an interdenominational prayer rally on Sunday.

Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were present at Kericho Green Stadium for the event. They did not comment on the issues.

It was Ruto's first visit to Kericho after winning the presidency.

First, Mutai lobbied for the national government to help set up a referral hospital in the South Rift to spare residents travel to Nairobi and Eldoret for advanced treatment.

He said many lives had been lost and families ruined by hospital bills.

He also pleaded for medicines in medical facilities in five years. Counties are supposed to clear their bills and buy from Kemsa themselves.

Second, he urged tea multinationals to do away with mechanised tea-plucking machines that have put 50,000 tea pickers out of work. Companies are unlikely to give up the huge profits of mechanisation for charity.

“The region is endowed with coffee, milk, and tea. It is unfortunate that so many years after Independence we are still auctioning ou tea in Mombasa," the governor said.

He said Kericho has the capacity to market tea.

Mutai said after multinational tea companies laid off more than 50,000 casual workers from the tea estates, businesses in Kericho town nosedived.

Businesses closed while small investors left the town for progressive towns in other counties.

Mutai accused multinational tea companies in Kericho of being arrogant and failing to listen to their pleas to remove the mechanised tea-plucking machines. That would instead employ workers and create jobs for residents.

“Revenue rates paid by the multinational companies to the county government are lower compared to the revenue they generate from their tea estates. Of what use are the tea estates if they cannot benefit the people, and cannot pay the rates?” Mutai asked.

Hundreds of Kericho residents turned up for the thanksgiving and prayer service presided over by the clergy from Kericho led by African Gospel Church Pastor Reverend Joyce Tonui.

The prayer rally was also attended by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, Kericho Woman Representative Beatrice Kemei, Roads and Public Works Cabinet secretary nominee Kipchumba Murkomen.

Also in attendance were Labour and Social Services Cabinet secretary nominee Florence Bore, Cooperatives Cabinet secretary nominee Simon Chelugui, elected MPs Nelson Koech (Belgut) Johanna Ngeno (Emurua Dikir), Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi) Kibet Komingoi (Bureti) among others.

(Edited by V. Graham)