Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has bashed the Judiciary claiming it is inconsiderate of critical issues affecting Kenyans when making its decisions.
Citing the ex parte orders stopping the implementation of some clauses in the Tea Act, Gachagua said this has given room for cartels to continue controlling the sub-sector at the expense of tea farmers.
The Act, Gachagua said, had been put in place to try and seal loopholes that had for several years seen farmers lose colossal amounts of money to middlemen but courts suspended it.
“Tuko na shida kubwa sana kortini...majaji, ndio, wako independent na pia ni wakenya lakini bila kuangalia mambo ya mkulima wanaisimamisha,” he said.
Speaking during a joint media interview with journalists in Kericho, the DP said it was wrong for the courts to issue the orders without listening to the farmers or government even as he committed to respect its decisions.
“We shall respect the independence of the courts but we are requesting our judges to understand the problems that we have, to allow us to deal with this problem once and for all,” he said.
Gachagua is chairing a national tea summit in Kericho which enters its second day today.
It brings together elected leaders from tea growing zones, tea farmer representatives and government agencies among other stakeholders.
During his address on Thursday, the DP said the government will start enforcing the reforms in the Act.
“From Monday we shall implement the Tea Act 2020 that is presently enforced, we shall ignore those who are against it. The Act will be implemented as it is even when we continue to seek amendments,” he said.
Gachagua said the cost of tea production has been all-time high and the reforms being introduced to lower it to rescue farmers, have upset the cartels benefiting illegally hence pleaded with the courts to ignore them.
“I know most of the people are not happy about this but we have no problem because we want the farmers to be happy,” he said.
The proposals to be given by the farmers at the end of the summit, he said, will be made into law and are expected to be operational within three weeks.
