Hundreds of tea farmers from Bogetutu region have vowed to challenge a local tea factory for allegedly blocking a section of them from being registered as members besides expunging a number of them from official membership.
This comes amidst claims by a section of the factory’s management that the farmers were engaging in double standards by declaring their loyalty to the nearby Kipkebe tea company that is owned by a private citizen.
But on Saturday, the farmers accused the management of Nyansiongo tea factory of discrimination, and vowed to challenge them in court if they fail to withdraw the sanctions imposed on them because they had been denied registration numbers.
“We have been members of KTDA for many years and it is therefore absurd for someone to dismiss our membership and fail to register new members because we are perceived to be loyal to another company. This is business and we are free to work with anybody and no one can take that from us,” said Justus Nyakundi on behalf of the group.
According to them, the company had no existing law to prevent them from working with a competing factory, hence the punishment was unacceptable.
“We have gone through rules and regulations of KTDA and none outlaws the allegations that have been labeled against us. We will fight in court if they fail to accommodate us,” added Mary Ongwae.
However, Nyansiongo tea factory chairperson Christopher Nyakora could neither dismiss nor admit the allegations, but urged farmers to solve the situation without necessarily fighting the management.
“I am not sure of what they are talking about but it is important that issues are solved in an amicable manner,” he said.