Agriculture CS Peter Munya (pictured) on Saturday engaged farmers from the Mount Kenya region on the newly gazetted tea regulations and governance issues in the tea sector.
This comes a day after the High Court dismissed a petition by the government and ruled that the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) can hold elections for factory directors scheduled next month.
In May, the Ministry of Agriculture gazetted new regulations that have caused a storm among players in the sector.
The Crops, Tea Industry Regulations 2020 are a culmination of a process, which began in 2014 when President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned a task force to address the problem of corruption and exploitation of farmers and conflict of interest in the management of tea value chain.
The regulations are said to have gone through the necessary processes, including stakeholder consultations and public participation, but fiercely contested by KTDA, who see the new rules as a way of diluting their powers.
The regulations seek to increase revenue to farmers who have complained over the years of interference and exploitation by middlemen and brokers, some of whom are said to be KTDA directors.
The Council of Governors on Monday contradicted the Ministry throwing their weight behind KTDA, and rejected the regulations.
Their statement read by Governor Muthomi Njuki, chair of the Agriculture Committee, angered farmers who singled out Governors Kiraitu Murungi and James Nyoro. They were previously active in the drafting of the regulations and in the various consultation forums with farmer representatives across the country.
Speaking at a Tea Regulations Townhall at Ndiko Primary School in Gatundu North, Farmers’ Representatives called on the President to weigh in on the issue, citing numerous court injunctions to slow down implementation of the regulations.
CS Munya urged the CoG not to stand in the way of the reforms that would improve the lives of tea farmers.
“Governors should now take their concerns to Parliament to be debated and added to the Bill, but they should not create controversy that would derail the reform process,” said Munya.
The CS explained that in order to bypass the litigious cycle holding back the reforms, the Ministry had included the Regulations to the Tea Bill introduced by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and passed by the Senate. The same are being debated at the National Assembly.
The regulations, if implemented, will address the challenge of low tea prices, delayed payments, low initial payments or bonus and fluctuating net earnings to farmers.
It would also fix governance challenges embedded in the tea value, including conflicts of interest in the operations of KTDA and its subsidiaries; and the auction process, the lack of transparency in the management of KTDA subsidiaries and non-declaration of dividends to farmers.
Also, it is expected that the regulations will fix the problem of exploitation of tea farmers by persons who are not tea growers commonly known “soko-huru”or “mukohoro". They buy tea from farmers on cash basis and sell to tea factory limited companies.
The reform will also look into the challenge of inefficiencies at the tea auction and in the application of the sale of tea by private treaty (Direct Sales Overseas – DSO) and the problem of low value addition of Kenyan tea destined for export.
Speaking at the meeting in Gatundu, Senator Isaac Mwaura reiterated that tea farmers needed all the support, and pledged to support the regulations meant to improve the conditions for farmers.
The same sentiments were shared by Gatundu North MP Wanjiku Kibe and her Thika counterpart Patrick Jungle, who reiterated their support for tea regulations.
Farmers have expressed their disappointment with the ruling and have threatened to boycott tea farming until tea regulations are effected, and KTDA withdraws all the court cases.
They have voiced their support for the regulations, saying they have suffered for a long time.
Peter Kinuthia from Theta factory, a tea famer, said “This crop that we have planted on our farms, has turned into a problem. People work to benefit. But recently, the crop, has become a problem to farmers."
The sentiments were shared by Ndung’u Gichia from Matara, "all we do is farm, but we are having problems. That is why we are asking the CS to support us. We are with you, we are behind you, do not be shaken" he said
Charles Njoroge from Gachege, said that, tendering of input like fertilizer by KTDA, have been riddled with corruption and that KTDA has been interfering with shareholding and it is no longer one-man one vote.
Alice Wanjiru wa Mburu, women are suffering because there is no money. Directors are enriching themselves while farmers are suffering.
John Mukui Kinyanjui from Nadarugu factory, aired the same frustrations. "we have a big problem. When we are farming tea, we are supposed to have money. But it is evident, most of these farmers are languishing in poverty" he said
Mofat Kamau Mbue from Murang’a who joined the meeting – Chairman Mt Kenya Tea Farmers forum, said that farmers were in support of the regulations.
Undoubtedly, Tea is one of the leading foreign exchange earners in Kenya
Coffee died, and now tea is about to die.
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