Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) directors drawn from tea growing counties east of the Rift Valley have dismissed sentiments by Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Rono over discrepancies in the payment of tea bonuses.

The directors who met in Murang’a on Tuesday said Dr Rono upset tea farmers in the region with claims that bonus payment from factories west of Rift Valley was reduced in order to benefit  the factories in east of Rift Valley, thus posting a better returns.

The farmers argued that bonuses for farmers allied to KTDA factories in Meru, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Embu and Kirinyaga were high based on the quality of tea they produce. The directors explained that tea factories west of Rift Valley, majorly focus on quantity and not quality, saying farmers east of Rift adhere to guidelines that ensure they produce high quality green leaf.

Led by Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe, John Mithamo and Enos Njeru, the directors observed that Rono’s sentiments can fuel discontent between farmers east of Rift Valley and west of Rift Valley over discrepancies in bonus payment.

Kangombe said the factories east and west of Rift Valley have been working harmoniously as they also engage in inter-factories borrowing. The MP, who is also the chairperson of Zone One in Kiambu disclosed that through inter-factories borrowing, the factories west of Rift Valley owe those in east of Rift Valley Ksh14.7 billion as per September 30.

“On the other hand, in the borrowing arrangement, tea factories in the East owe those in the West of the Rift, Ksh422 million,” Kagombe added.

He further noted the inter-factories borrowing was recently stopped and replaced by a Ksh21 billion kitty at Kenya Commercial Bank with KTDA as guarantor.

Kagombe said tea directors west of the Rift should rally farmers to produce high quality tea, which fetches better prices. The directors also refuted claims that hydro power stations established in their zones were established through the deductions from the factories in the west.

They noted that factories East of Rift Valley mobilised funds to establish the hydro power stations with the aim to reduce the cost of processing tea.

“The West should focus on tea quality and reduce playing politics. The former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya acted to ensure quality in tea,” Njeru said.

Enos Njeru said the government should reduce taxes levied on tea, noting that there are more than 40 taxes levied on the crop. Njeru requested President William Ruto to convene a meeting with tea directors following alarming tea hawking in western region, where reported incants are not acted upon.

“Those playing politics with the tea should cease as in the past 70 years, the farmers have worked in harmony. We shall not allow anyone to plant a discord between factories in the east and west of the rift,” added Njeru.

The directors also demanded a return of the Rainforest Alliance certification that assisted the produce fetch better prices in the market. They noted that the certification had marketed the product in the premier markets thus earning better payment.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / by Bernard Munyao