Tea farmers - Sacco Review | The Leading Newspaper for Co-operative Movement in Kenya

Gov’t to redouble tea farmers earnings in 2027

Sacco ReviewDecember 4, 202505 mins

The government has announced a reform programme in the tea sector aimed at stabilising prices, improving quality and doubling tea farmers’ earnings to Ksh.100 per kilogramme of green leaf by 2027. Speaking when he appeared before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe intimated that tea farmers receive payments through a two-tier payment model; a monthly initial payment and…

Tea farmers resists introduction of draconian regulations

Sacco ReviewDecember 2, 2025December 2, 202506 mins

Tea growers in the east of the rift are protesting against a proposal on the standardization of the tea bonus, calling on the stakeholders to enforce plucking of quality green leaf. In their Annual General Meetings, the farmers across the counties said the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) should ensure all the players are involved…

Bomet tea farmers threaten to halt supply over ‘exploitation’ by KTDA

Sacco ReviewNovember 6, 202508 mins

Small-scale tea farmers from Bomet County are threatening to stop supplying green leaf to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), accusing the agency of economic exploitation and poor returns that have left them struggling to survive. Led by Ndaraweta Parish Priest Father Ambrose Kimutai, the farmers have given the government one month to intervene 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…

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…

South-Rift leaders to meet to plot new strategies to curb loses after low tea bonuses

Sacco ReviewOctober 12, 2025October 13, 202504 mins

Leaders from the South- Rift Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Zone are set to convene on Monday, October 13, for a high-level meeting at Mogogosiek in Bomet County aimed at developing actionable strategies to revitalize the tea sector and enhance farmer earnings. Organized under the #MesendetMovement, the much-anticipated forum is expected to attract directors and…

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’s Boito Tea farmers to hold forum over low bonus payments

Sacco ReviewOctober 3, 202504 mins

Tea farmers affiliated with Boito Tea Factory in Konoin Sub-County in Bomet County are set to hold a peaceful meeting on October 4 at Boito Market Grounds to discuss the recent release of tea bonus payments, which they claim are unjustifiably low. In an official notice addressed to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Konoin…

Senator Okenyuri decries tea bonus disparities in Kisii, Nyamira Counties

Sacco ReviewOctober 2, 202504 mins

Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri has raised alarm over what she termed as glaring disparities in tea bonus payments, accusing industry stakeholders of unfairly disadvantaging farmers in Kisii and Nyamira counties. Speaking on the floor of the Senate Okenyuri said that while tea growers in Mt. Kenya region are receiving bonus payments averaging Ksh 50 per…

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…