This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
On the heels of a lawsuit filed by Muranga county government and farmers against the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), tea farmers in the Kisii region are now threatening to uproot their tea bushes in protest of low income.
According to reports, the farmers were paid a paltry 11 shillings per kilo of green tea delivered in bonus by the KTDA, sparking widespread discontent.
As part of their demands, the farmers are calling for a significant reduction in the number of directors and officials at KTDA-affiliated factories to cut production costs.
They also want the agency to be reverted back to government control, citing the infiltration of brokers in the tea value chain.
However, KTDA maintains that lower income is due to a market glut in the international market and poor quality tea.
