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KTDA suspends staff travel, training amid outcry over shrinking farmer bonuses

Sacco ReviewOctober 28, 202503 mins

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has suspended all staff travel, off-site meetings, and training activities across its subsidiaries in a sweeping cost-cutting directive aimed at tightening governance and responding to mounting pressure over reduced farmer bonuses. In an internal memo, dated October 21, 2025, the agency circulated to all general managers, department heads, and…

Why fair annual bonus rates is vital to all regional tea farmers

Sacco ReviewOctober 18, 2025October 22, 202509 mins

Recent statistics for the 2024/2025 financial year reveal a glaring disparity in the annual bonus rates paid to tea farmers across Kenya’s key tea-growing regions. While farmers in the East of Rift Valley and Mt Kenya regions receive relatively higher bonuses ranging from Ksh26 to Ksh57 per kilogram of green leaf supplied, those in the…

KTDA refutes fund diversion claims, says Ksh1.03B spent on Kericho, Bomet power projects

Sacco ReviewOctober 14, 202506 mins

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has come out strongly to dismiss allegations that over Ksh 1 billion contributed by farmers from the West of the Rift Valley were diverted to other regions. In a press release issued on Tuesday, KTDA affirmed that the funds were fully accounted for and used exclusively on power projects…

Bomet tea farmers demand transparency, fairness in bonus payments

Sacco ReviewOctober 13, 202504 mins

Tea farmers in Bomet County have called for urgent reforms in the tea sector to address disparities in bonus payments and improve farmer welfare. During a tea farmers consultative meeting held in Mogogosiek in Konoin sub county, Bomet county, the growers voiced concern over wide differences in bonus payments across factories despite similar production levels…

Government orders KTDA to pay tea farmers Ksh2.7 Billion refund

Sacco ReviewOctober 8, 202504 mins

The government has directed the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) to release Ksh2.7 billion to tea farmers as part of their 2024–2025 bonus payments, following the recovery of funds previously held in two collapsed banks. In a letter addressed to KTDA Holdings Chief Executive Officer Wilson Muthaura, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Agriculture,…

Bomet tea farmers demand gov’t intervention over low bonus

Sacco ReviewSeptember 30, 202505 mins

Tea farmers affiliated with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Tirgaga Tea Factory in Bomet County are protesting what they term as exploitative payments after receiving a meagre bonus of Ksh13 per kilogram, far below their expectation of Ksh60. Speaking in Bomet, farmer David Rotich said the announcement left many growers shocked and demoralized, noting…

KTDA dismisses low bonus concerns cites weak currency, low tea demand

Sacco ReviewSeptember 30, 202503 mins

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has dismissed concerns over this year’s reduced bonus, insisting the drop is driven by global market forces and not internal mismanagement. The agency cited weaker currency movements and depressed international prices as the key factors, noting that the shilling averaged 129 against the dollar in 2025, compared to 144…

Boost for smallholder tea farmers as subsidized fertiliser arrives in October

Sacco ReviewSeptember 17, 202505 mins

Kenya’s smallholder tea farmers are set for a major boost as nearly 100,000 metric tonnes of subsidized fertilizer procured by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) arrives in the country in October. The shipment, which marks the largest consignment in recent years, is expected to significantly ease input costs and improve yields for thousands of…

New dawn for tea farmers as Ombasa elected KTDA Vice Chair

Sacco ReviewSeptember 5, 202503 mins

Tea sector has received new leadership as James Omwemo Ombasa elected as the new Vice Chairman of the Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Limited (KTDA) In the election, held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Enashipai Resort & Spa, Ombasa was officially certified by Returning Officer. As a dedicated tea grower, Ombasa’s victory signals strong…

Stiff encounter looms for KTDA vice chair election after Chepkwony demise

Sacco ReviewAugust 25, 2025August 25, 202503 mins

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) vice chairperson vacant position has attracted at least three candidates eyeing one of the most influential positions in the country’s tea industry creating creating a stiff encounter as every candidate eye to win. The position of vice-chairmanship is influential as it oversees operations affecting more than 680,000 small-scale farmers…