Kenya tea factories raise green leaf payments after grower protests 

KENYA – Tea factories across key growing regions in Kenya have begun revising their monthly green leaf payments after the KTDA Holding Board approved a review following last year’s protests by farmers.  

In Embu and Nyeri counties, factory boards have raised the rate to Kes 30 per kilogram (US$0.19) from the previous Kes 25 per kilogram (US$0.16), with farmers expected to receive the new payments on February 5. 

According to The Standard, the factories that have implemented the new rate include Kathangariri, Mungania, Rukuriri, Chinga, Gathuthi, Gitugi, Iria Ini and Ragati. The Iria Ini Tea Factory approved the increase on Tuesday after a board meeting chaired by Machira Muturi, before issuing a notice to growers. 

In Embu County, KTDA Holding Board member Enos Njeru said separate meetings were held by factory boards chaired by Joseph Rwanjau of Rukuriri, Robert Njeru of Mungania and Moses Njeru of Kathangariri. 

“The farmers demanded the review, but we are pleading with them to continue plucking the recommended green leaf to ensure we take quality tea to the market,” Njeru said. 

During last year’s annual general meetings, many growers called for higher monthly payments to discourage farmers from selling their leaf to privately owned factories. 

One farmer said: “This is a strategy aimed at stopping the farmers from continuing to seek expensive loans from exploitative commercial banks and shylocks.” 

Njeru confirmed that the factory directors had approved an increment of Kes 5 per kilogram, equal to about US$0.03, which will be reflected in farmers’ January payments from February. “This followed in-depth consultations and a review of the factories’ books of accounts,” he said, urging growers to maintain quality standards. 

The review has also triggered tensions with farmers supplying private factories, who are demanding that fertiliser distribution and bonuses be resolved before February 1. 

KTDA Holding chairman Chege Kirundi said the review followed widespread requests from growers across the tea-growing regions. “The factory directors are in control of the sector and brought up the matter for consideration by the board,” Kirundi said. 

Separately, the Tea Board of Kenya has directed brokers and buyers at the Mombasa Tea Auction to remit all cash proceeds from tea sales directly into the bank accounts of 54 KTDA-managed factories within 14 days.  

The directive follows findings that some factories were registered through a management agent in violation of the Tea Act, 2020. 

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