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Alarm Over Theft of Tea in Transit

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Published on Thursday, 02 August 2007 06:42

MPs from tea-growing areas yesterday expressed concern over rising cases of theft of the cash crop while in transit. Dr Hezron Manduku (Nyaribari Masaba, Ford People) wondered why a lorry driver and his loader, whose vehicle ferrying Sh3.4 million worth of tea had not been arrested a month after the theft.

Mr Davies Nakitare (Saboti, Narc) asked if there was a racket between Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and some criminals. He recalled the days of Chepkube in the 1970s when coffee from Uganda was smuggled into the country.

Mr Mwancha Okioma (Kitutu Masaba, Ford-P), noted KTDA had recently suffered a series of tea thefts and shady deals. Agriculture assistant minister Kyalo Kaindi assured the estimated 16,000 tea farmers that extra security had been put in place to protect the cash crop.

Answering a question by Dr Manduku, Mr Kaindi, confirmed that tea weighing 30.84 tonnes, worth Sh3.4 million, was collected from Kiamokama tea factory on June 28, by Midland Emporium Limited, but never reached its destination. The lorry was found abandoned and empty in Bahati, Nakuru District, two days later.