Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei and Nominated Senator Joyce Korir./SCREENGRABA section of leaders from Bomet has sounded alarm over what they term as the continued exploitation of tea farmers by cartels and middlemen.
While urging the National Assembly to urgently pass the Tea Amendment Bill, 2023, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei stated that the legislation is crucial to safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers.
The bill, already approved by the Senate in October 2024, seeks to liberalise the tea market, dismantle entrenched cartels, and inject transparency into a sector that contributes billions to the economy but leaves farmers wallowing in poverty.
“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. The National Assembly must fast-track this bill to protect the backbone of our economy,” said Sigei.
His statement comes in the wake of bonus announcements by the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA), which have triggered widespread outrage especially in the west of the Rift.
Tea factories in Bomet County recorded some of the lowest payouts in the country, Mogogosiek at Sh12 per kilogram, and Kapkoros and Kapset at just Sh13 per kilogram.
“It is deeply concerning that, despite their hard work and high global demand for Kenyan tea, our continue to face diminishing returns,” Sigei stated.
“The dismal bonus payouts announced by KTDA is unacceptable.”
Farmers, angered by the low returns, have begun uprooting tea bushes in protest, with others switching to alternative crops.
“The cost of inputs keeps rising, but the bonus keeps shrinking. What is the point of growing tea anymore?” lamented one farmer from Bomet East who was captured cutting the tea.
Critics accuse KTDA of hiding behind market forces while allowing a network of cartels and middlemen to siphon profits at the expense of growers.
“This is a system designed to keep farmers poor. KTDA is supposed to defend them, not preside over their exploitation,” charged Samwel Cheruiyot, a farmers’ representative from Bomet Central.
In a statement issued Tuesday, KTDA attempted to justify the low payouts, citing global price fluctuations and operational costs.
But, leaders from tea-growing regions have dismissed the explanation, arguing that Kenyan tea remains in high demand internationally, with exporters and brokers still making huge margins.
Nominated Senator Joyce Korir said a lasting solution to the low bonus payout should be urgently sought.
She warned that unless structural reforms are implemented, farmers would continue to suffer the consequences.
“We don’t want to be told that our tea is of poor quality. Our farmers produce some of the finest teas,” she said.
“What happens is that a few individuals at the auction tamper with our tea, substituting it with lower-quality tea.”
Korir who was speaking at a separate event in Bomet also assured farmers that she would engage senior government officials to address the crisis and chart a way forward.
“I understand the pain you're going through, especially since many of you depend entirely on this crop. We ask for your patience, we’ll soon convene a meeting to find lasting solutions,” she said.
But, according to KTDA, the drop also affected tea prices in different regions of the country.
It stated that the East Rift and Kiambu fetched Sh371 per kilo, a drop of Sh46 from last year.
The agency further stated that Murang’a earned Sh376, down by Sh42, Nyeri earned Sh388, down by Sh42, Kirinyaga earned Sh400, down by Sh38, Embu earned Sh404, down by Sh34, and Meru earned Sh381, down by Sh46.
It explained that these discrepancies exist because tea from high-altitude zones naturally fetches better prices due to its higher quality, which is favoured in global markets.
"We are expanding production of orthodox teas, which fetch higher prices in niche markets, to reduce reliance on CTC teas," said KTDA in the statement attributed to Corporate Affairs.
"We are also working with the government to promote value addition, reduce packaging costs, and open new markets including China. Additionally, we are investing in factory modernization and energy solutions to cut costs and improve competitiveness.”
KTDA assured tea farmers that it remains committed to their welfare and to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector.
