Kiambu County Government was on Monday ordered by the high court to refund Sh12 million to Theta Tea Factory members.
The money was deducted from their tea earnings since September 2002 to facilitate construction of Kuri Tea Factory in Gatundu.
Justice George Odunga ruled in favour of the 1,154 members and did not award another 1,007 small scale farmers members since they were not in a position to prove beyond reasonable doubts that they have valid claims in the Sh10.6 million.
Samuel Wanjuguna had filed a suit where he sued, Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) together with Theta Tea Factory, for having unlawfully deducted money on the basis of a very contentious resolutions based on the September 25, 2003 extraordinary meeting.
He went ahead and told the court that there existed conflict of interest in the process through which Kuri Tea Factory acquired the land where it was built.
"Farmers were not given an official notice about September 25, 2003 meeting which sanctioned the deductions without their consent,” said Wanjuguna.
Wanjuguna proved how the land was transferred on December 24, 2002.