KTDA directors want State to reject pending tea legislation

By Robert Nyasato

Directors from 54 Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) managed factories have launched a campaign against Konoin MP Julius Kones’ sponsored Tea (Amendment) Bill of 2010.

The directors representing over 560,000 small-scale tea farmers expressed concern that if enacted, the Bill, which has been published and is due for tabling anytime, will lead to collapse of the tea industry.

"The Bill will reverse the reforms realised in the tea sub-sector as it seeks to deny growers powers to elect directors," said John Nyagarama, a member of KTDA board.

Mr Nyagarama, who read a press statement on behalf of the directors at Nyankoba Tea Factory in Kisii on Friday, said a critical analysis of the Bill showed the MP was not acting in the interest of farmers but powerful individuals.

"They are scheming to buy the factories that farmers have invested in once they collapse," he argued.

As matters stand, the Bill proposes to repeal Section 12A of the Tea Act (Cap 343 of the Laws of Kenya), which bans the uprooting of the cash crop without written consent of the industry regulator, the Tea Board of Kenya.

Redraft bill

The directors urged the Government to take over the Bill and redraft it to include views from players in the industry.

"The legislation is retrogressive, draconian and is clearly driven by ulterior motives. We want to remind the MP the industry has been liberalised since 1904," read part of the statement.

The directors said if passed into law, the legislation will also benefit foreign-owned firms who plough back profits to their mother countries and brokers who engage in tea hawking.

They said the Bill came up after the Ministry’s attempt to introduce new rules was overruled by the court.