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{
    "id": 1478757,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1478757/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 92,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Gichugu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gichimu Githinji",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Actually, it is a request for statement regarding payment of tea bonuses for Kimunye and Thumaita tea factories for the Financial Year 2023/2024. 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 tea farmers’ annual bonuses in Kimunye and Thumaita tea factories for the Financial Year 2023/2024 Hon. Deputy Speaker, in mid-September 2024, the Board of Directors for Kimunye and Thumaita tea factories in Gichugu Constituency declared payment of bonuses for the period between 1st July 2023 and 30th June 2024. Those factories which fall under Zone 5 of the tea growing regions were ultimately to pay bonuses at Ksh51 per kilogramme and Ksh46 per kilogramme, respectively. The declaration which fell lower than the expected payments has sparked mass demonstrations and a boycott of tea plucking by farmers who primarily depend on tea farming for their livelihoods. This situation poses a serious risk to the economic development in the region. The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) National Chairman, one Mr. Enos Njeru, vide a public announcement, stated that the bonus would be at least Ksh60 per kilogramme. The lower payments have thus led to widespread dissatisfaction and accusations of misleading information. It is against this background that I request the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock to apprise the House on the following: 1. Provide a detailed breakdown of the total gross tea bonus payments per kilogram of green tea leaves that should have been payable to farmers before the deductions. 2. A clear explanation of the deductions made from the gross payments that resulted in the declared net pay for both Kimunye and Thumaita tea factories. 3. A clarification on amounts reserved or retained from farmers' payments per kilogram of green tea leaves, the specific purposes of those reserves or retentions, and whether they can be disbursed as part of additional payments to farmers beyond the declared net bonus. 4. The basis under which the KTDA National Chairman, Mr. Enos Njeru, publicly declared that the bonus payment for the period would be at least Ksh60 per kilogram of green tea leaf. This is a very urgent request for a statement because the farmers under the two factories are still on a boycott. They are not plucking tea. So, I request an urgent response to this request for a statement. Thank you."
}