A fresh inquiry in Kenya by lawmakers aims to uncover why tea farmers earn low bonuses despite strong global demand. The National Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Livestock will start the probe next week and submit its report within three weeks.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed the committee, chaired by Tigania West MP John Mutunga, to take a broad approach. He said his office has received many complaints from leaders in tea-growing areas about unfair prices and poor returns.
The inquiry will focus on how tea is priced and why farmers east of the Rift Valley get higher bonuses than those in the west. Eastern counties include Murang’a, Kiambu, Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, and Tharaka Nithi. Western counties include Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Trans Nzoia.
Lawmakers also want to know why factory costs are higher in the west. They plan to identify inefficiencies and policy gaps that cut into farmers’ profits.
The team will review the roles of the Tea Board of Kenya and the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA). It will check for overlaps, weak regulations, and poor coordination. The committee will also examine marketing, auction, and export rules to ensure fair pricing.
To get clear answers, the team will study every stage of the tea value chain — from production to export. It will identify where pricing happens and what determines final tea prices.
Wetang’ula said the findings will help fix weaknesses in the sector. He added that lawmakers must ensure fairness and equal benefits for all tea-growing regions. He also said farmers deserve better pay for their hard work.
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