A farmer picks tea leaves. [businesstoday.co.ke]

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A section of Kisii county tea farmers has threatened to move to court and sue the Kenya Tea Development Agency [KTDA] over low bonus rate.

According to Gucha tea farmers alliance chairman Jimmy Momanyi, tea farmers from other parts of the country get paid a good amount of money per kilograms as compared to Gusii region tea farmers.

Addressing the press in Kisii town on Monday, Momanyi noted that tea farmers of other parts of the country do celebrate over improved rates every year but farmers in Gusii region benefit nothing.

They also threatened to sue tea factories’ directors for involving in corruption than fighting for their farmers at all.

“For instance, the KTDA has announced the bonus rate for Ogembo Tea Factory at Sh21 per kilogramme of green leaf delivered in this year as compared to other factories outside Gusii region,” said Momanyi.

“We are going to court and sue the KTDA to tell us why we get paid a little amount of money per kilo as compared to other parts of the country,” he added.

He also insisted that the pay-out of this year will not benefit Gusii region farmers but to experience the loses.

“I urge the government to interfere and help Gusii region tea farmers to benefit from their cash crops,” he added.