Mini bonus payment brightens the villages in Mt Kenya
Tea farmers in the Mt Kenya region will receive Sh1,765,055,366 for their mini bonus out of the Sh5.5 billion released by KTDA .
In the period between July 1 and December 31 last year the growers delivered 366,198,843 kilograms of green leaf for processing in tea factories.
In Murang’a region with 10 tea factories, the farmers will take home Sh671,613,542 million with those affiliated to Ngere and Kiru factories getting Sh137, 735,289 and Sh55,285,500 respectively.
The payment was announced by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi accompanied by KTDA directors led by their Chairman David Ichoho, amid complaints by a section of farmers questioning the slow pace of implementing the reforms.
In the mini bonus payment released by the directors farmers affiliated to Ngere, Mungania, Rukiriri and Kathangiriri got the highest rate of Sh10 per kilogramme of green leaf.
In the payment rate for Murang’a factories Makomboki, Nduti, Gacharage, Njunu, Githambo will be paid as Sh7 per kilogramme. Kanyenya ini, Kiru and Gatunguru the payment will be made at the rate of Sh6 per kilogramme.
Yesterday, Chairman of Aberdare Tea Farmers Wambugu Gachunji lauded the move by the KTDA to release the awaited mini bonus.
The farmers, he said, feel relieved after receiving the payment alongside their monthly dues for the green leaf delivered.
“It has been a long wait as the farmers are preparing their children for school in the coming days,” said Wambugu, a farmer affiliated to Kanyenya ini tea factory.
Chairman at Gatunguru tea factory Samson Kaguma said the payment will support the growers to support their families.
“This is an initial payment made by KTDA after the calculations are done by the board of management at the factories,” said Kaguma.
Milka Njeri, a farmer at Kiru tea factory said the move to release the payment was timely.
“ We were worried over the delay to release the payment with many planning to go for loans from the commercial enterprises,” she said, hoping to get above Sh75,000.
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