Kipkebe Tea Factory’s management has yet again banned two more tea groups from selling their tea produce to the company following complaints that they were promoting violence when buying tea from area farmers.
The decision to ban Nyamiranga and Enchoro tea groups were arrived at following a one month investigation to an incident in which seven people were critically injured after allegedly having a scuffle in a tea buying station.
The company had already suspended Nyakerinya and Chabumba tea groups for engaging in similar scuffle for two years in August.
Defending the decision on Sunday morning, agricultural field director Victor Osugo said the persistent violence manifested in groups allied to the company was building negative reputation to the company.
“We have been investigating the incident in which workers from the two groups fought and came up with a decision to ban the two groups from any tea business with us for one year. The company condemns violence because it gives us negative reputation,” he said.
Mr Osugo said the two groups will not be allowed to appeal following the magnitude of evidence that directly linked them to violence by area farmers.
“As a company, we are happy that many farmers came and gave testimonies. We are not promoting cut-throat competition that can even lead to death. They will therefore not be allowed to appeal,” he added.
Nyamiranga Tea Group chairman Cleophas Abuga condemned the suspension while his Echoro counterpart Dickson Oenga declined to comment on the issue on phone to this writer.
“We cannot be taken for granted. Five of my workers were injured and they (Enchoro Group) started the fight. The decision is draconian and we will use other channels to challenge it,” he said.