Murang’a county assembly will lobby for the 18 tea-growing counties to customise the Murang’a County Tea Act as a common law that harmonises country's tea sector. Tea factories’ directors have, however, strongly opposed the Act saying the county government should not be involved in agreements and certifications involving tea farmers, managing agents, tea packers, brokers, and manufacturers. The Act introduced a cess levy that will be one per cent of the value of tea produced by tea factories to improve infrastructure in tea-growing areas. The directorate will also be required to seek new international markets for the local tea and reduce the amount of tea sold at the Mombasa tea auction, while solving disputes between farmers and tea factories. The directorate, constituting 15 people from the county government, the assembly, and tea factories, will prescribe the minimum period within which farmers should be paid and issue penalties to tea factories for delayed payments.

Source: The Star May 09, 2016 12:41 UTC