This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
On October 15, 2019, tea farmers from the Kisii Region in Kenya took to the streets to demand a reduction in officials at the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA). They claimed that the numerous officials were the main reason for the low bonus payouts.
The low tea bonus payouts had angered farmers across the country, with many feeling that they were not being fairly compensated for their hard work. In the Kisii Region, tea farmers were particularly upset, as they had been paid a paltry Ksh 11 per kilo.
As a result, the farmers threatened to uproot their tea bushes if their demands were not met. They wanted the KTDA officials reduced in number so that they could get reasonable earnings. Additionally, they demanded that KTDA be handed back to the government, citing the infiltration of brokers in the tea value chain.
KTDA responded by stating that the low income was due to a market glut in the international market and poor quality tea. However, the farmers remained unconvinced and continued to push for change.
