KTDA warns against politicising tea sector amid bonus concerns
By Wangari Njuguna, January 6, 2026Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has raised alarm over political interference in the tea sector, warning it could disrupt stability, mislead farmers, and threaten tea bonus payments.
In a press briefing on Monday, January 5, 2026, KTDA national chairperson Chege Kirundi said the move might cause unrest among the farmers.
“We appreciate the leaders who are helping us in managing the sector to good standards; however, we would appeal to anybody not in the tea business to seek advice from us so that they speak from a point of knowledge,” Kirundi said.
Kirundi has, however, challenged the leaders to champion for the farmers’ rights in Parliament, where the Tea Amendment bill is being debated.
“Some of the pronouncements that we have heard coming from people not coming from the tea growing areas have been misleading, and they can consult us so that they can give facts,” he added.
He noted that mixing business and politics might have adverse effects on the sector or even lead to its collapse, as leaders continue to raise concerns over bonus disparities.
Concerns over the tea bill
On the proposed tea amendment bill, Kirundi said KTDA has given its recommendation in writing, and he has also appeared before the parliamentary agriculture committee to give his opinion about it.
He, however, said the ultimate decision lies with the national assembly, urging the legislators to give the bill the best shot to ensure the amendments will help propel the sector to a brighter future.
“We are hoping that when the MPs resume and debate the bill for the third reading, they will have captured all the input given by the farmers and other players in the sector,” the chairman remarked.
Kirundi also highlighted some of the contentious issues with the bill, among them being the issue of representation, saying that reducing the number of directors from six to three will create an imbalance in the farmers’ representation.
“With the turnover in the factories, there is a need to retain the directors for better supervision, and it might also be a challenge to set new boundaries,” Kirundi remarked.
The second issue is the proposal for 40 per cent value addition sales of made tea, saying the biggest challenge would be to get the market for the produce.
“We are willing to comply, but this is not something that can be done in one year; we will continue searching for the market,” he remarked.
“Last year we lost good markets in Sudan, Iran and Russia due to geopolitics, and we are hoping to recover them as the negotiations are still underway.”