A tea company director from Bogetutu region in Kitutu Masaba constituency has defended herself from claims that she had supported the move to deduct farmers Sh7 per kg in the much awaited November bonuses to fund construction of a tea factory at Matunwa.
Speaking on Sunday at Riakumba area in Gesima, Mrs Rachael Orina, who represents the region at Nyansiongo tea factory, termed the claims as ‘malicious and stage-managed’, blaming her woes on perennial competitors.
She reiterated that each farmer will only be deducted Sh2 per kg from the bonuses in November to facilitate construction of the proposed Matunwa tea factory.
“I have never been corrupt and I don’t tolerate corruption. Those spreading malicious propaganda that I have asked the Nyansiongo tea factory management to deduct Sh7 are guided by their political motives in a bid to tarnish my reputation. I will not succumb to such rhetoric,” she said.
Mrs Orina urged local residents to shun politicians who were misleading them about the construction and vowed to table minutes of a meeting that was held in January this year where the solutions were arrived.
“I am not the only one who sits at the Board and those politicizing the issue are aware of that. It is good that you shun such people who want to bring discomfort among farmers. In farming, we don’t encourage politics,” she added.
The director said plans were underway by Nyamira County government to launch the foundation of the factory’s construction which is expected to relieve the mother factory in Nyansiongo due to its limited space and capacity.