Eyes on senate over the tea bill
What started as a small battle between the tea farmers and the giant Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has attracted the might with ODM leader Raila Odinga pleading with the senate to pass the Tea Bill.
The bill is a crucial item that will be dealt today by The Senate after it was endorsed by the National Assembly two weeks ago.
Passing the Bill, he said would be a Christmas and New Year gift to the farmers who have suffered for decades
The former Prime Minister in a communication to senators lodged an appeal to the small scale growers when they will be making the final decision.
Odinga who has made inroads in tea growing areas especially in Central Kenya said he has worked closely with the small scale farmers in the past one year .
He lauded political leaders from the counties of Nyeri, Meru, Murang’a, Kakamega, Vihiga, Nandi, Kericho and Kisii and the small scale growers who have suffered following interference of the sector by cartels.
It has been the usual tale of conflict of interest, lack of transparency, impunity that includes disobeying court orders, corruption and wrong attitude that has killed many sectors before, getting entrenched in KTDA.
Raila has joined the Tea Farmers Lobby Sector led by former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera that petitioned senate to come to their rescue.
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