Bogetutu zone tea director to Nyansiongo tea factory could face a possible termination after angry farmers in Gesima demonstrated over her leadership accusing her of incompetence.
Mrs. Rachael Orina has represented the region for a period of 7yrs and the provision in the factories constitution that allows farmers to petition tea directors could be her undoing.
Tea farmers from 5 buying centres (Riakworo, Nyakonngo, Omoyo , Nyaronge and Riamanoti) on Wednesday held separate demonstrations and accused the director of ignoring their plight by ‘not doing enough’ to ensure their tea produce was picked from the buying centres in good time.
“We are very disappointed of her leadership and she should be held accountable for our undoing. For a week now, we have been forced to sleep in buying centres to guard produce. She has however remained quiet over the issue yet we sense that she knows more than we do,” said Charles Kemonde of Nyaronge.
According to them, they had done a petition to force the director’s exit from the tea industry and threatened to cut links with Nyansiongo tea factory if management failed to adopt the motion initiating her removal.
“We are so many and the wishes of the majority ought to be respected. She has to resign or we will cut links with the company. Other tea regions have enough transporting vehicles and it’s difficult to explain why our region is only served by vehicle. We are getting huge loses because tea picking is now done once or twice a week,” added Evans Okari of Omoyo.
Efforts to reach the director did not bare fruits since she is said to be currently in the US as part of the marketing delegation for the company.
(Leaders of Omoyo buying centers addressing their plight to area tea farmers. They now want area Director to be removed from office/Abuga Makori)