“We Only Got 16 Shillings on the Tea Bonus,” MPs Lecture Govt Citing Unfairness in Nyanza Region

Members of Parliament have raised concerns over disparities in tea bonus payments across Kenya, saying some smallholder farmers in Nyanza received as little as KSh 16 per kilogram, compared with payouts of between KSh 53 and KSh 56 in other tea-growing regions.

During parliamentary proceedings, lawmakers questioned why farmers in Nyanza were receiving significantly lower returns despite investing time and resources in tea production.

Some growers reportedly received between KSh 12 and KSh 16 per kilogram, raising concerns about the sustainability of tea farming in the region.

MPs called on the government to investigate the differences in earnings and explain the factors behind the varying payouts. They argued that if tea quality, crop varieties or productivity levels were contributing to the gap, farmers should receive support to improve production.

Lawmakers also urged the Ministry of Agriculture to consider providing farmers with high-yielding seedlings and other assistance to help them meet market requirements and improve their earnings.

The debate also touched on reforms in other agricultural sectors, including coffee and sugarcane. MPs called for similar attention to the challenges facing tea farmers, citing concerns over production costs, levies and inconsistencies in bonus payments.

They urged the government to work with relevant agencies and tea factories to review the payment system and develop measures that would make earnings more transparent and sustainable for growers.

Lawmakers warned that continued low returns could discourage farmers from maintaining their tea farms, putting livelihoods in tea-growing communities at risk.

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