KTDA says 2 million bags of fertiliser procured for tea farmers

The move comes after delays in the shipment of the cargo due to technical and logistical challenges, as the fertiliser was to be supplied to farmers this month ahead of expected rainfall.

According to KTDA National Chairman Enos Njeru, the authority will receive 99,000 metric tonnes of the fertiliser next month, with supplies expected to be immediately available to eagerly waiting farmers.

“We have procured 99,000 metric tonnes, worth two million bags (50kgs) of fertiliser, which will arrive early next month and will be supplied to farmers immediately amid delays from the source," said Njeru.

Njeru said the authority is also diversifying its market for local tea to boost farmers' earnings after recording a drop in tea prices in the last couple of months.

The chairman said KTDA was awaiting a court direction on the implementation of the 0.8 per cent levy that had been gazetted by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, after a section of farmers petitioned the courts in the matter.

Equally, Njeru rejected claims reported in print media regarding alleged irregular or illegal payments to one of the fertiliser suppliers amounting to approximately Ksh.322.5 million, noting that investigations were ongoing.

 “The alleged payment of Ksh.322.5 million to one of the fertiliser suppliers is currently under investigation by the relevant investigating authorities, and we will allow the competent authorities to complete their work, establish the facts and issue their findings”, said Njeru.

Njeru noted that KTDA and the tea sector had faced persistent criticism, allegations and public attacks on numerous fronts and committed that the authority would entrench accountability in its operations to safeguard the interest of the 600,000 farmers countrywide.

Addressing the press on the sidelines of a meeting with the chairman of tea authorities in Naivasha, Njeru noted that the reputation of KTDA should not be destroyed through unverified social-media posts, sensational headlines, speculative commentary or irresponsible blogging.

He added that KTDA was open and prepared to engage constructively on genuine proposals on reforms in the tea sector that would improve farmers' earnings moving forward.

“The interests of individual persons or groups must never supersede the interests of the millions of tea farmers whose livelihoods depend on this industry”, said Njeru.

The chairman said KTDA leadership was committed to strengthening its governance, financial discipline, accountability and transparency acrross it's operations.

Njeru welcomed the move by the national government to set aside a grant to replace old machinery at the factories, which would improve efficiency while cutting operations costs for the benefit of farmers.

He noted that KTDA-managed factories had installed anti-tampering devices to manage green leaf fraud through weighing scale tampering, warning that actions would be taken against those found culpable.