Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured tea farmers
that the government will intensify its crackdown on cartels blamed for
depressed bonuses in the sector, despite overall growth in earnings in recent
years.
Speaking during the Kipkelion East Economic Empowerment
Engagement in Londiani, Kericho County, on Saturday, Prof. Kindiki said the
government would not allow middlemen and cartels to frustrate farmers.
“We have many cartels that are sabotaging efforts to
streamline the tea industry. We will not allow them to continue frustrating our
farmers. We are sealing loopholes to ensure they are eliminated,” he said.
The DP noted that sector earnings had risen from Sh138
billion in 2023 to Sh215 billion in 2024, a result of reforms implemented by
the administration.
However, bonuses to farmers remain lower than expected,
which he attributed to exploitation by cartels.
“I am working hard to support the President to fight cartels
in this sector because they are hurting our farmers and reaping where they have
not sown. The way we fought cartels in the sugar sector, we will apply the same
energy, led by the President, to wipe them out in the tea sector and ensure
farmers get their rightful earnings,” he added.
Kindiki outlined measures being put in place to improve
farmers’ returns, including strengthening governance and transparency in Kenya
Tea Development Agency (KTDA) factories, improving sales and marketing, and
diversifying into specialty teas that fetch higher prices.
“Going forward, we must improve transparency in factories
and across the value chain. Farmers must have access to accurate information on
the marketing and sales of their tea. Some factories face governance issues,
and this has been part of the problem,” he said.
He further called for better quality tea production and the adoption of high-yield varieties to meet global demand.
“We want to improve the quality of our tea so they can fetch
better prices in the global market. We must also diversify into specialty teas
that bring in more income,” Kindiki noted.
The Deputy President also highlighted ongoing government
projects in Kericho County aimed at boosting local livelihoods.
He said Sh16.7 billion worth of initiatives have been rolled
out, including affordable housing, fresh produce markets, and hostels.
In the energy sector, Sh1.3 billion has been allocated under
the Last Mile Connectivity Programme to connect 14,000 households to
electricity. Kipkelion East Constituency alone has received Sh143 million for
new connections.
On infrastructure, stalled projects such as the
Londiani–Hilltop Road have been revived to improve connectivity between Kericho
and Uasin Gishu counties.
The government has also set aside Sh8 billion for the
construction of the Kericho Teaching and Referral Hospital in Londiani, which
is expected to ease access to specialised health services for residents of the
South Rift region.
Kindiki urged residents to continue enrolling for the Social
Health Authority’s universal medical cover, noting that 500,000 people in
Kericho had registered against a target of 900,000.
The event was attended by Kericho Governor Erick Mutai,
Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, several MPs from the Rift Valley and beyond,
President’s aide Farouk Kibet, and members of county assemblies.
