Two Nyamira County Assembly members have sharply criticised Kenya Tea Development Agency's payments to tea farmers this year.
Addressing the press in Nyamira County on Sunday the MCAs said that this year's bonuses for area farmers didn't reflect well as compared with other counties.
Bogichora MCA Beautah Omanga said that KTDA should look for a way to improve bonus payments to local farmers for there is a big disparity on bonuses between Nyamira and Kisii as compared to other counties.
"The management of KTDA in Nyamira should look for a way of improving payment of bonuses to our farmers since this year's bonus have bigger disparities as compared to other counties," Omanga said.
"The Sh38 paid for every kilogram of tea leaves to farmers can be seen as a deliberate move by KTDA to sideline our farmers. Nyamira and Kisii MCAs may be forced to demand our governors to look for an alternative market if the trend continues," warned Omanga.
Nominated MCA Naomi Ondieki said that it was saddening that farmers can go through a lot of challenges before delivering their produce to KTDA only to be paid meagrely.
"It is so saddening that our farmers can undergo long stay in tea buying centres awaiting vehicles to deliver their produce to KTDA only to be paid meagre money," noted Naomi.
The Kanu nominated MMCA representing women and youth affairs in Nyamira County Assembly further said that Nyansiongo Tea Factory was among the least paying tea factories as it only paid Sh19 for every kilogram of tea leaves delivered.
"Look at Nyansiongo Tea Factory. It only paid its farmers Sh19 per kilogram of tea leaves something that worries me," she said. The nominated MCA also wondered how ghost farmers can be paid bonuses yet they had no tea leaves to take to tea buying centres.
Naomi further said that tea is a major cash crop in the region and of which must not be taken as a side hustle for farmers.