President Uhuru Kenyatta has been asked to form a committee to investigate the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) over the varied bonus payments for different tea factories.
Speaking on Sunday in Nyamira town, former Kitutu Masaba member of Parliament Omwancha Okioma wondered why Tombe Tea Factory in Kisii County pays Sh22 per kilo while Nyasiongo Tea Factory in Nyamira County pays Sh30 per kilo and challenged to know why the payment differs in terms of shillings yet the tea leaves come from the same region with the same quality.
He said investigations will help promote transparency and accountability in the agriculture sector and ensure small scale tea farmers get value for their efforts.
“As a politician and farmer, I urge President Uhuru to form a committee to investigate KTDA over why it pays varied tea bonuses to farmers in different regions such as Kisii and Nyamira and yet the tea leaves are of the same quality,” said Okioma.
The former parliamentarian also wants KTDA to explain why farmers in Central Kenya are being paid more per kilo compared to their counterparts in other regions in the country.