Tea farmers allied to the Nyansiong’o Tea Factory in Bogetutu region have gone on strike due to intrigues over the proposed tea factory aimed at decongesting the main factory.
Trouble began when farmers from rival groups disagreed on the site for construction with some suggesting West Mugirango while others opting for a location in Kitutu Masaba constituency.
However, it is understood that farmers were disillusioned with the warring factions hence demanding refund of their contributions to the mega project that will cost them over Sh 500 million till a lasting solution is arrived.
“We have decided to strike not because we want the factory to be elevated in a certain region but we want our money back till they come up with a consensus. We will hamper processing activities till management responds positively,” argued Abel Ombati.
According to him, the factory’s management is practicing delay tactics to defraud those millions of shillings by contributing enormously to squabbles between farmers’ representatives.
“What they are doing is just delaying the project to get a loophole of embezzling our money. They are inciting both sides of farmers’ representation hence complicating the matter and that is why we want our money till they fix the mess,” he added.
However, Nyansiong’o factory chairperson Christopher Kemoni has dismissed the allegations terming the “unfounded and political” hence null and void.
He said some local politicians are politicising the issue by inciting farmers against the management and urged farmers to return their businesses to normalcy since the management has nothing to do with squabbles between farmers representation.
“We have nothing to do with this stalemate. This is purely farmers issue and we are waiting for them to come up with an appropriate site. I know some people are politicizing the issue but we cannot succumb to their petty politics,” he said.