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FARMERS:  Embu leaders have expressed fear that three tea factories in the county were at a verge of collapsing due to dwindling supply.  They said the business has been invaded by private buyers who are curtailing farmers from selling their tea to the factories where they are promised better pay.

Speaking in a joint meeting that brought together tea sector leaders, security leaders and elected leaders they said the move by private buyers to buy tea direct from farmers was an illegality that will be met with total rejection.

Enos Njeru, Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) board member said that since the buyers started the business in the county there has been reduction of tea by two million kilogrammes compare to previous production. He called on farmers not to sell their tea to hawkers since their business will be affected. Embu Deputy governor Kinyua Mugo said the practice is putting at risk operation of tea factories in the county and that it may jeopardise efforts by the government to ensure farmers benefit from tea farming.

He noted that business was being undertaken at night by hired jobless young people.

“We are giving notice to those hawkers buying tea at night in our county, that we will deal with them decisively and they will be treated as criminals,” said Mugo. His sentiments were echoed by Embu County Commissioner Stephen Kihara who said that farmers should sell their tea in the factories they are registered.

He urged farmers not to be tempted to sell their tea cash to brokers, noting this won’t give the farmer better pay.