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Call to Educate Tea Growers

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Kenya Tea Development Agency should discourage farmers from hawking their tea to brokers from multinational companies.This was a better move than banning such trade, councillor Nyabuti Moseti of Mekenene Ward in Nyamira District, said.

Speaking to journalists at Chepilat trading centre, Mr Moseti said a decision by district commissioner Jamleck Baruga to ban hawking of green tea leaves had encouraged corruption by police.

"We are appealing to the DC to lift the ban, because police are using it as an excuse to harass the buyers and demand bribes," said Mr Moseti.

He said the police from Manga and Keroka police stations were notorious, and asked their bosses to investigate.They allegedly collect between Sh2,000 and Sh3,000 from each vehicle.Some farmers sell tea at low prices to brokers who pay on the spot instead of waiting for month end like KTDA.