- Tea farmers flocked to banks and Saccos to confirm their 2025/2026 KTDA bonus payments.
- Bonus rates varied across factories, with growers expressing mixed reactions over the amounts received.
- Farmers urged factory boards to improve tea quality, reduce costs and secure better bonus rates next year.
Tea growers moved to the banks to confirm the amount remitted by the KTDA into their accounts for the annual bonus. In the year, the bonus has been calculated at between Ksh 12 per kg and Ksh 50 per kg.
In a spot check, the farmers made long queues at the saccos and commercial banks across the tea-growing areas, making withdrawals and seeking confirmation of the status of their bonus payment for the year 2025/2026.
On Friday last week, KTDA Holding National Chairman Enos Njeru announced the release of the bonus payment to the 700,000 tea growers, saying the amounts will reflect on Monday.
“The payment, he said, marks an important milestone for tea farmers as they continue to play a vital role in sustaining Kenya’s tea industry and contributing to the country’s economy,” said Njeru.
There were celebrations at Rukuriri, Gacharage, Ngere, and Mununga tea factories as the farmers celebrated the bonus rates, with Solomon Njoroge, in Gatanga, saying he delivered 5,600 kgs of green leaf between July 1, 2025, and June 30, this year, and found the bonus intact.
Njoroge said the amount paid was better but below expectations, as they hoped to fetch above Sh 55 per kg.
“We understand the challenges that the tea sector has endured in the year, but some expenditures could have been reduced, with a call to the directors to remain keen as next year hope for Ksh 70 per kg,” said Njoroge.
Mary Chelang’a from Bomet said the amount received was heartbreaking as the farmers braved harsh weather conditions and stayed for long in the tea buying centres, only to get less than they expected.
“We urge the payment to be adjusted upwards in the future to safeguard the interest of the farmers,” she said.
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In Nyeri County, Njeri Mburu urged the factory’s boards to be innovative to ensure Kenya’s tea was acceptable in all parts of the world, and to compete with other products.
“There is hope that in the coming year all the farmers will be celebrating after a better bonus payment of above Ksh 50 per kg,” said Ms. Mburu, who has leased three acres of tea.
In Embu County, there were celebrations at Rukuriri tea factory, with the farmers lauding their management led by Joseph Rwanjau for the payment of Ksh 50 per kg of green leaf that was delivered in the past year.
Newton Njiru said farmers in KTDA Zone six factories have followed better farming practices, thus getting the best payment in the last three years.
“Under the patronage of KTDA National Chairman Njeru, Rukuriri factory farmers have scored highly owing to observing the green leaf plucking procedures, leading to the production of quality,” said Njiru.
By correspondent
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