The management board of an Embu tea factory has rejected the amount given by the Kenya Tea Development Agency for mini-bonuses and instead approved a higher sum for its farmers. Directors of Rukuriri factory in Embu East defied instructions by KTDA head office that Mt Kenya farmers be paid a flat rate of Sh5 per kilogramme of tea delivered from July to December last year. The board approved Sh10.50 per kilogramme, which is 30 per cent of each farmer’s total earnings. The directors said they approved the payment and wrote to KTDA’s head office to honour it, adding that they were still waiting for the word from the agency. However, they maintained that they complied with the law, which mandates them to set the amount, hence the need for the head office should execute their resolution.

Source: The Star April 26, 2020 18:56 UTC