The Mountain Journal
The ground is set for the tea factories to declare the much-awaited tea bonus for the year 2025/2026, which has caused anxiety among the 800,000 farmers across the counties.
In the week, key stakeholders have been meeting, focusing on the presidential directive on outstanding loans by the tea factories.
In the week ranking officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) and KTDA convened a sitting where President William Ruto’s directive on the audit and validation of KTDA loans estimated at Sh 34 billion.
In a meeting chaired by Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Rono, attended by KTDA Holding Chairman Enos Njeru and TBK CEO Willy Mutai focused on the position and preparedness for the second payment to tea farmers.
The stakeholders deliberated on the framework and modalities for undertaking the process and acting on the findings.
In the counties, the KTDA factory managements assured their farmers to await the official declaration of the annual bonus, warning farmers against relying on propaganda peddled through the social media platforms.
The PS said, “The meeting laid emphasis on ensuring that all necessary measures are in place to facilitate a timely and smooth payment.”
In a TBK report, the KTDA managed tea factories by close of December 31, last year had registered an outstanding loan balance of Sh34 billion, a move that sparked an public outcry with calls for an audit.
Njeru said KTDA remains firmly anchored on the tea farmer as it continues engaging all relevant stakeholders, providing the necessary information and advocating for measures that protect farmers’ interests.
Mr Njeru outlined the challenges the tea sector experienced in the year, including the closure of the Straits of Hormuz, which disrupted the shipment routes in the Middle East, the high cost of petroleum, the imposed tea levy of 0.8 percent, among others.
“ We also strengthen the farmers’ incomes and ensure that every effort is made to deliver their rightful earnings from tea,” said Mr Njeru.
Mr Mutai said,” We also discussed achievements and the ongoing reforms in the tea industry, all aimed at strengthening the position of Kenyan tea in global markets.”