Kericho team calls for drop of tea machines

By Peter Mutai

Poor turnout characterised Labour Day celebrations in Kericho, with trade unionists calling on tea companies to stop using tea plucking machines.

Kericho DC Samuel Njora decried the poor turnout, blaming trade unionists and employers for using Labour Day celebrations as a fighting arena over workers’ pay.

"I am not happy with the turnout in this year’s Labour Day celebrations. In fact, in the past, workers used to attend such celebrations in large numbers to listen to leaders addressing issues facing them," the DC said.

Majority of those who attended the function at the Kericho Green Stadium, were trade unionists.

However, Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union deputy secretary general Henry Omasire called on multinational tea companies operating in Kericho and other tea growing zones to reconsider the introduction of tea plucking machines in their farms.

He said the introduction of the machines had led to loss of jobs for tea pickers.