Tea farmers from Meru have expressed their displeasure over the recently announced Tea bonus payments, accusing Agriculture CS Munya of dishonesty with his much publicized tea reforms.
The 2021 tea bonus amounts are the lowest in history, against the farmers’ expectations fueled by CS Munya’s reforms in the sector.
“The CS promised farmers that his reforms would give us more than Ksh 50 for our tea. We have only received Ksh 19 amid increased fertilizer prices. Our fear is that Munya could be playing politics with the miserable lives of tea farmers,” says Mr. Charles Koome, from Kirindine.
“We had great hopes in the tea reforms. CS Munya should desist from politicizing tea issues”, says Stanley Kimathi from Kiegoi.
Tea farmers across the country are staring at one of the lowest bonuses to have ever been paid in recent years.
Last week, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said payments to small scale farmers has dropped from Sh58.76 in 2016 /17 to Sh36.64 in 2019/2020, citing challenges such as high costs of energy and labour.
“In order to reverse this, the ministry has been spearheading various policy, regulatory and administrative reforms to enable farmers earn a reasonable living,” the CS explained.
The tea sector generates over Sh130 billion in exports annually and support over six million Kenyans directly and indirectly.
Kenya is the leading exporter of black CTC teas in the world accounting for about 24 per cent of the global export.
Below is a comparative review of the 2020 and 2021 tea bonus payouts for several the tea factories in the country:
| Tea Factory | 2020 Tea Bonus (Ksh) | 2021 Tea Bonus (Ksh) |
| Kionyo | 25.50 | 21.45 |
| Kiegoi | 21.50 | 19.50 |
| Kagwe | 27.60 | 27 |
| Mataara | 24.50 | 22.50 |
| Mununga | 25 | 27 |
| Kimunye | 23.10 | 23.10 |
| Kanyenyaini | 20.30 | 17.50 |
| Ngere | 30 | 28.50 |
| Njunu | 25 | 22 |
| Nduti | 24.50 | 21 |
| Ikumbi | 28.50 | 25.50 |
| Gacharage | 30 | 30 |
| Ragati | 20 | 18.50 |
| Gitugi | 26.50 | 25 |
| Chinga | 21 | 19 |
| Iria’ini | 20.15 | 17 |
| Gathuthi | 23.35 | 20 |
| Kapsara | 7 | 5 |
| Chebut | 11.50 | 10 |
| Kapkoros | 12 | 13 |
| Kapset | 8 | 8.50 |
| Mogogosiek | 10 | 9 |
| Momul | 21.20 | 20 |
| Litein | 10 | 9 |
| Kapkatet | 10.54 | 9.40 |
| Tegat | 10.50 | 9 |
| Mudete | 8.50 | 6.70 |
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