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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday, April 8, 2023, visited farmers under Ragati Tea factory in Mathira, Nyeri county accompanied by his spouse Dorcas Gachagua.

In an update through his social media pages, he said his visit is in line with his duty to fast-track reforms in the tea sector.

The DP noted that he had a one-on-one conversation with the tea farmers to familiarise himself with their day-to-day challenges to assist in his assigned duty by President William Ruto.

Ruto tasked his DP with spearheading the reforms in the tea, coffee and milk sectors and has expressed full trust in his ability to reform them.

“Further to the duty assigned to me by H.E President William Ruto of fast-tracking reforms in the tea sub-sector, I visited farmers under Ragati Tea factory in Mathira, for firsthand views and to acquaint myself with the challenges they face,” he wrote in parts.

According to Gachagua, he is working towards clearing the cartels in the tea sector as well as enhancing the production of one of Kenya’s biggest exports.

“Various interventions are on course for value addition and direct market access by removing cartels in the supply chain. In addition, a joint effort by tea factories, County Governments and the National Government to enhance the production of orthodox tea is on course,” he added.

Gachagua meets KTDA board

This follows his meeting with Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) directors as the government firms up reforms geared towards increasing pay for farmers and make it more profitable to farmers.

The Deputy President hosted the Board of Directors led by Chairman David Muni Ichoho at his office in Harambee Annex.

“We are concerned about the capture of the sector by various forces which are working to the disadvantage of the farmers. We want to free the sector from these forces.

“We have no personal interest in the sector other than the interest of the local farmers. The situation we have now is not pleasant. It is a vicious cycle of poor returns for our tea farmers. The tea farms make beautiful scenery across the country but the owners remain poor,” he said.