Tea sector labour stand-off hurting economy, resolve it

Robert Murimi, a purple tea farmer on his farm at Ndumanu Village in Mathira, Nyeri County. [Kibata Kihu/Standard]

The Kenyan tea industry is, yet again, in the grip of labour anxiety that if not well handled could snowball into a prolonged sector paralysis.

On one hand are the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) officials who are agitating for double-digit wage increases, while on the other hand are multinational companies that have been urging sober negotiations on the matter.