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Church leader gives govt one-month ultimatum over low tea bonuses
26th October, 2025 08:31 PM
Ndaraweta Parish Priest, Father Ambrose Kimutai, has warned the government to take urgent action over low bonuses paid to small-scale tea farmers, saying failure to intervene could see them halting all tea plucking and sales to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).
Speaking after Sunday service on October 26, 2025, Father Ambrose explained that he would start mobilising tea growers in the leading tea-producing counties, including Bomet, Kericho, and Nandi, by educating them on their rights and the original purpose of KTDA, which was established in 1964 to uplift African farmers.
He said farmers would give authorities one month to intervene “bottom up” and ensure fair treatment, highlighting years of alleged exploitation and mismanagement in the sector.
“It is unfortunate that what was created to help small farmers is now exploiting them through low pricing and mismanagement,” the priest said.
Also watch: Tea farmers and leaders call for a stronger market framework.
He highlighted that farmers often receive bonuses that barely cover the high costs of production, including inputs like subsidised fertiliser costing about Ksh2,500 per acre.
“If the government does not act, we shall stop plucking tea and selling it to KTDA,” he warned, adding that major transport corridors could be blocked to demonstrate the farmers’ collective power.
He emphasised that the planned action would target all KTDA buying centres in the Western Rift, signalling a determined effort to force a complete re-evaluation of the agency’s structure and role in the small-scale tea sector.
Father Ambrose also urged Rift Valley leaders to genuinely fight for their constituents, rather than exploit farmers for political gain. “I want to tell our leaders to stop lying to the public to win votes when they are not supporting farmers to get fair bonuses,” he said.
The warning comes as bonuses across the Western Rift have dropped significantly this year: Kericho Ksh 245 (down 101), Bomet Ksh 209 (down 85), Nyamira Ksh266 (down 106), Kisii Ksh 246 (down 95), and Nandi/Vihiga Ksh 208 (down 66).
Farmers say such returns are insufficient to cover basic production costs, further fuelling frustration and calls for government intervention.
