Farmers disagree with assembly over Tea Bill

Murang’a, Kenya:  Assembly members have met resistance from tea farmers in their quest to get views for the anticipated Tea Bill.

At a public forum on the bill, members of the Agriculture Committee met strong opposition from directors of the tea factories who were backed by some farmers.

The directors are against the formation of a tea directorate by the county government as envisaged under the bill.

The directorate, if formed, will be among other things mandated to manage and control the marketing of the tea in the county.

The directors argue that the marketing of tea is a function of the Tea Board of Kenya, and as such, they want the county government to shelve the bill in the interest of the farmers.

However, the James Kariuki-led committee braved the opposition as they held the forums under tight security.

At Gatunguru market, the forum failed to take place as scores of drunkards shouted at the visiting team forcing the session to be called off prematurely.

At Kanyenya-ini market, hell broke loose as a man was roughed up by farmers for supporting the bill. Violence erupted following claims of bribery to disrupt the meeting.

At Githambo Tea Factory, the assembly team retreated to Kahatia district offices' compound where the meeting took place under police security.

Murang'a North Kenya Tea Development Authority board member Francis Macharia and his Murang'a South counterpart Erastus Gakuya blamed the MCAs for failing to involve them in the forums.