A private tea company from Nyamira County is on the verge of losing millions of shillings in tea supplies after a section of farmers threatened to withdraw their membership.
According to the farmers who deliver their tea to Kerumbe Tea Company, the company's management has failed to release their payment for two months despite making numerous promises.
Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting by the farmers, their chairman Mr Morris Mokua accused the company of failing to meet its obligations.
“It has been a bad month for us because we have gone for over two months without payment. The management has failed on its part and time has come for action. Over 200 members are complaining of non-payment and this is the time for us to leave the company,” he said.
The withdrawal from the company will be accompanied by a legal suit to compel the company to pay the debt, Mokua said.
“Let them understand that we are not only going to withdraw but also file a legal suit against them. We have hired a lawyer and from now we will talk in court. Our debts must be paid before we clear completely from the company,” he added.
However, the company's manager Mr Peter Moindi has differed with the farmer’s allegations and blamed their respective banks for failing to credit their accounts.
“We cleared with all members a long time ago and I think that must be an issue to do with their respective banks. We are in the process of checking this out to fix the mess,” he said.