A group of tea farmers supplying their green leaves to the Toror Tea Factory in Ainamoi, Kericho County, have announced that they will cease harvesting until issues surrounding their bonuses are resolved. The farmers expressed dissatisfaction with the Ksh.25 bonus declared by the board of directors of two tea factories.
Baigoi Bett, one of the farmers, stated that they believe their bonuses should be set at Ksh.41 and criticized the use of an average price for declaring the bonuses, arguing that it would demoralize many farmers. The farmers have pledged not to resume tea plucking until they receive a clear report on their bonuses and plan to convene a meeting soon to decide on their next steps.
Bett also mentioned that despite having boycotted tea harvesting for the past two weeks, they will continue their strike until all their concerns are addressed.
Tea farmers in Kericho and Bomet counties have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and fairness in the bonus distribution process, alleging that some factories receive more favorable rates than others. Last week, protests at the Mogogosiek Tea Factory resulted in the death of one person and left two others seriously injured.
