• Tea farmers in Kisii and Nyamira counties have begun uprooting the crop over this years dismal earnings.
• Area MPs say cartels are to blame for low tea prices that have affected the bonuses.
Tea farmers in Kisii and Nyamira counties have begun uprooting the crop over this years low returns.
At Tombe in Nyamira County some farmers entered on their farms early Friday with machetes and slashed off tea bushes.
Similar scenarios are now being replicated in Masaba South in Kisii where farmers earned a paltry Sh11 as bonus.
Joseph Getoke told the Star he could not take it any more following a string of dismal returns.
He hired five men who moved to his farm to begin clearing the bushes so that he can plant bananas.
"We have other options, my land can equally support banana and vegetables," " he said as he lowered his machete upon another tea bush.
He cursed the Kenya Tea Development Agency terming it 'a bunch of greedy directors' for the shameful earnings.
At Metembe area in Kisii , an angry John Getacho hired a tractor to uproot his 800 tea bushes.
He said he had already secured blue gums to plant as heavy rains pounded the region yesterday.
"Ours has been a cry in the wilderness, nobody is listening to us. Of what importance is a crop if there are no fruits for us as farmers?," he posed.
He said years on end they have pestered the KTDA to improve earnings for them but in vain.
" As a farmer you sacrifice your sweat and effort on what brings in good returns. At this rate what can be left to pay even your shamba boy?. Tell me!" he retorted.
At Tombe, more farmers vowed to mow down their tea bushes by Monday next week.
" I don't have second thoughts on this matter. By Monday I want the tea out of my farm, for good," said Joseph Asande .
He said he may not even show up at Tombe Factory to collect the bonus next week.
The farmers are angry with their legislators who they said have failed them.
" They are just 'a useless bunch'...we sent them to the talking shop," said John Mogire, another tea farmer in the area.
But a section of MPs earlier in the week hit back at KTDA saying the authority was to blame for low tea prices that have affected the 2019 bonuses.
Borabu MP Ben Momanyi said cartels at the agency could be living off the sweat of the peasant farmers.
Many of these struggling farmers can't afford fees for their young ones.
Former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara termed the earnings " unacceptable and a shame to our farmers,"
" I have gone through the list on how the farmers from Gusii are fairing and I have to say it is grotesque, it is unacceptable," he told the Star by phone.
Released figures showed farmers at Eberege, Ogembo , in Kisii with Sh12.30 per kilo.
Last year the farmers earned an average of Sh 28 per kilo with with highest getting Sh 31.