Ekaterra Tea resumes operations as talks go on

Ekattera Tea Company has resumed operations in Bomet and Kericho counties after suspending its work for more than a month due to fears of insecurity.

Kenya Tea Growers Association Chairman Silas Njibwakale said the intervention by the State saw the company resume its operations.

Speaking in Bomet during a leaders meeting drawn from the two counties, Njibwakale said Ekattera was fully operational now though it was still reeling from losses occasioned by destruction.

"For a week, Ekattera has resumed full operations and we hope that there is not going to be interference," the Tea Growers Chairman said.

Njibwakale however decried theft of green leaves from tea farms by locals, which he said has not stopped to date. "Ekattera and Finlays are still facing theft of green leaf from their farms and we are hoping this will come to an end soon through processes that are ongoing," he said

He pleaded with the locals to treat the companies as their own and stop antagonising them.

Njibwakale said the companies are however still counting losses from destruction and also from the time they stopped operation.

"Ekattera lost money running into more than Sh170 million from the destruction and period we suspended operations," he added.

Seek solutions

The tea growers met with leaders from the two counties, where a-20-member committee was formed to seek solutions to the stalemate.

The committee is made up of Members of the County Assembly, MPs, security, tea growers, and tea company officials. Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said the committee has been tasked with seeking a middle ground on the mechanisation of tea picking that sparked a stalemate.

"We need to embrace dialogue and not to shy off investors and if there is any issue, we have to resolve it amicably and not the destruction of property and vandalism and that is why we have resolved to form a committee to look into the issues we disagreed," Cheruiyot said.

He said the committee has one month to table its report, noting that it will also negotiate for employment opportunities for locals.

He said they have proposed prioritisation of youth from the surrounding in non-skilled labour.

"Our hope is that the committee will ensure that the machines that are at the centre of the stalemate dealt with and ensured that locals are prioritised and not machines," he said.

Kericho Governor Dr Erick Mutai demanded that the tea companies consult and involve the local leadership in CSR activities within the two counties, adding that in the future when business is changing hands, counties in the region must be involved.