Nyamira senator Kennedy Mong’are has demanded explanation from Nyankoba tea factory director over the losses tea farmers incur on delay of collecting tea leaves from buying centres.
Speaking in Nyamira town, Mong’are accused the factory management of laxity in their duty.
“We want an explanation from the factory director as to why they delay in the collection of tea leaves because this kills the morale of our hardworking farmers,” said Mong’are.
Among the buying centres that are affected by the delay are Rikenye and Rigoma.
Farmers from Rigoma ward who suffered the blow lamented over the situation, saying the delay depreciated the weight of their product.
They argued that was not the first time they suffered and asked intervention from the government and demanded compensation on the loss.
“I ask the government to intervene in the situation and punish the factory management to compensate us,” Josephine Morara, a tea farmer said.
This comes as farmers of the cash crop from Gusii region decry over the depreciation of its value in the last three years, prompting others to clear the crop from their lands.