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{
    "id": 1476497,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1476497/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 48,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kisii County, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Dorice Donya",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Since I will not get time to comment, could I please just say one thing before I read the Statement? I come from Keroka Town and Kiamokama Tea Factory borders my home. Farmers in my town got a bonus of Ksh20. I have had no peace. I have not eaten for the last three days. I am distressed because of the calls I get from my people over these tea bonuses. I am suffering. Let me proceed. Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the payment of annual bonuses to tea farmers. Tea farming is a major economic activity in Kenya, contributing significantly to the country’s export earnings and providing livelihoods for millions of Kenyans. However, there have been growing concerns and complaints from tea farmers regarding the disparity in the payment of bonuses by factories in various regions. Tea farmers in some regions, such as Kisii County and parts of the Rift Valley, receive significantly lower bonuses compared to their counterparts in other regions despite similar input and production levels. This disparity, which is against the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Dividend Payment Policy, has caused concerns about fairness, transparency and equity in the payout system among farmers. It is against this background that I request the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock to apprise the House of the following: 1. The criteria used to determine the rates of annual bonuses paid to tea farmers across the different regions and factories in Kenya. 2. The reasons behind the significant variations in bonus payments to tea farmers in the country. 3. The measures the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, through the relevant agencies such as the Tea Board of Kenya and the KTDA, is taking to ensure that all tea farmers receive fair, uniform and transparent bonuses based on their production levels. 4. The timeline within which the Ministry will address the disparity to ensure that tea farmers across the country are treated fairly. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
}