The Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA) on Monday, January 20, revealed that large-scale tea firms in Nandi County have been incurring losses exceeding Ksh30 million each month since August last year.
KTGA Chair Silas Njibwakale made this alarming revelation during a press conference at a hotel in Nairobi.
According to him, these losses are attributed to criminal activities infiltrating the trade, including theft of tea crops, land invasions, and damage to investments by what appear to be organised crime syndicates.
Citing the case of Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK) in Nandi County, he explained that such criminal activities have resulted in staggering losses over the past four months.
Tea farmers in the field
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Notably, he highlighted the land invasion of the Sitoi Estate, owned by EPK, as well as the recent illegal harvesting of trees at Sambret Estate in Kericho County.
“KTGA has observed, with grave concern, the invasion and illegal tea harvesting activities at Eastern Produce Kenya’s (EPK) tea estate in Nandi County and an attempted raid by armed individuals at Browns East Africa’s Sambret Estate,” Njibwakale said.
“In Nandi, well-organised criminal gangs who appear to enjoy political cover, have established themselves at EPK’s Sitoi Estate in recent months. These gangs have occupied crucial estate zones, including the Sitoi Airstrip, crippling operations and placing lives and property at substantial risk.”
Despite these concerns, Njibwakale added that the government and security agencies have yet to take the matter seriously, demonstrated by their lacklustre response which has only emboldened the criminals.
Although it is the second-largest tea-growing enterprise in Kenya, he added that these challenges could lead to massive economic losses to the local and national economy.
The British-headquartered firm maintains over 8000 employees paying out more than Ksh3.75 billion to small-holder farmers each month, with an annual wage bill of more than Kshs 1.4 billion.
In total, it supports over 14,000 small-holder farmers in Nandi County and is by far the largest buyer of green leaf from partner growers in the Nandi region.
The firm also provides more than Ksh2 billion worth of community investments and procurement opportunities for local contractors and service providers every year according to EPK Board Chair Chris Flowers.
Tea farms Ikweta Safari Camp
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