Weighty issue as tea farmer demands cash

For the last three years, a frustrated tea farmer in Gesima, Kisii, claims he and 50 others have been following up payment for deliveries made in the 2006/2007 financial year. He says the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and Nyansiongo Tea Factory have not provided a satisfactory explanation for withholding the money.

"The factory cited questionable research findings that each tea bush should not produce more than 1.5kg, which we supposedly contravened. Mine were an average of between 1.5kg and 1.7kg. They accused us of having excess tea," he says.

Strangely, says the farmer, "no charges were preferred against us for overproduction", nor were they warned of the rule prior to delivery. This, he says, has led to "years of suffering" and a series of unfruitful meetings with company officials.

"What we continue to witness is a systematic attempt to use delaying tactics and blame games. After each meeting, we are told payment would be made. However, these often turn out to be empty promises," he says.

Since he is "a poor farmer who lives on less than a dollar a day", he would like KTDA and the factory to pay the withheld cash.