Tea farmers demand formula used to calculate bonus

Workers use tea harvesting machine on a farm in Kericho. [File, Standard]

A wave of protests has rocked some Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) tea factories in Kericho and Bomet counties following a reduction in bonus.

Farmers in the region have raised concern over alleged lack of transparency and fairness in the process.

Tension that had been building up erupted last week with farmers staging demonstrations outside the factories.

They are demanding explanation over how the bonus was calculated and why some factories seem to receive favorable rates than others.

During the demonstrations at the Mogogosiek tea factory in Konoin Sub-county on Wednesday that led to one person being shot dead and two others seriously injured, farmers destroyed property.

"We work hard every season, but we see little reward for our efforts," said Joseph Ronoh one of the farmers.

The farmers said they want to know why tea bonus fluctuates every year yet some regions receive high payment.

The current bonus they said is a drop from what they were paid last year, which ranged between Sh30 and Sh35.

"We want to know why our bonus fluctuates year after year yet the same is high in other regions," Nancy Chepkwony said.

KTDA is expected to make the announcement on the bonus this week.

This follows the conclusion of the annual board meetings by the directors of respective factories on Tuesday.

The meetings, done in phases, started on September 9 and ended on September 17 and are aimed at reviewing and approving the financial records.

Similar protests were witnessed in Toror, Kapkoros, and Motigo tea factories.