Ruto Put on the Spot as Gusii Leaders Demand Better Tea Prices for Farmers

President William Ruto faced mounting pressure over low tea earnings in Kisii and Nyamira counties as he began his tour of the Gusii region, with local leaders demanding answers over the poor bonuses received by farmers.

The issue featured prominently during an interdenominational church service at Nyamaiya Stadium in Nyamira County on Sunday, November 8, where leaders used the president’s visit to highlight the financial challenges facing tea growers.

Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Donya called for a review of tea prices, questioning why farmers in the region continue to receive relatively low payments despite producing high-quality tea.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati also questioned the disparities in bonuses declared by factories, adding to growing calls for reforms in the sector.

The concerns follow the announcement of the 2025/2026 second payment, commonly known as the tea bonus, which revealed significant differences in earnings between factories in Gusii and other tea-growing regions.

Several factories in Kisii and Nyamira declared comparatively low bonuses, prompting farmers to question the criteria used to calculate their payments and the fairness of the existing arrangements.

The dispute has since taken a legal turn, with small-scale tea growers from the two counties obtaining permission from the High Court to commence judicial review proceedings challenging the 2025/2026 payments.

In response, Ruto acknowledged concerns over tea prices and pledged to improve farmers’ earnings through increased investment in factory operations.

The president disclosed that his administration had allocated KSh 2 billion to tea factories to support modernisation and improve productivity. He also revealed that the government was considering changes to electricity use in the sector.

The debate has also placed the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and individual factory management under scrutiny, with growers demanding greater transparency in the calculation of their bonuses.

Farmers have argued that their earnings should adequately cover the cost of production, including labour, fertiliser and transportation.

Ruto’s tour is expected to feature the launch and inspection of development projects across Kisii and Nyamira counties.

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