“We Want Our Money”: Ruto’s Government Put Under Pressure as Tea Farmers Raise Fresh Demands

“We want our money!” Ruto’s government is facing growing pressure from tea farmers following widespread complaints over reduced annual bonus payments, with Kangema Member of Parliament Peter Kihungi presenting their grievances and demanding urgent intervention.

Kihungi brought the farmers’ concerns to the attention of the government, highlighting their growing frustration over the low payments. He called for action to address the financial challenges facing thousands of smallholder tea growers.

The farmers have expressed anger over declining second payments, arguing that their earnings do not reflect the effort they put into tea production. Some have questioned why payouts differ significantly between factories despite similar deliveries.

In Murang’a County, growers affiliated with Kanyenyaini Tea Factory received KSh30 per kilogramme, down from KSh33.50 in the previous season. The reduction has added to concerns among households that depend heavily on tea income.

Kihungi also raised concerns over differences in factory payments, questioning why some farmers receive more than KSh47 per kilogramme while others receive approximately KSh30. He wants authorities to explain how the payments are calculated.

The legislator called on Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata to establish a task force to investigate the disparities in factory payouts. He argued that farmers deserve transparency and clear explanations regarding their annual earnings.

He further demanded investigations into an alleged KSh322 million excess payment during the 2024/2025 fertiliser procurement, calling for accountability over the use of resources intended to support agricultural production.

Meanwhile, tea industry stakeholders have cited rising production costs, international shipping disruptions and the 0.8 per cent tea export levy among factors affecting farmers’ earnings. Growers are calling for government intervention to ease the financial burden.