Small-scale tea farmers in Nyeri want the contentious Bill meant to improve regulation of the tea sector shelved until the input of all stakeholders is taken into consideration.
Through their directors, the farmers complained that the Bill, The Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2010, is likely to cause more damage to the sector and negate on the benefits realised under the current Tea Act. The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) directors from factory companies in Zone Four said though farmers were in support of an improved Act, the proposed Bill by Konoin MP would destroy rather than improve the industry.
"The Bill is neither reformist not liberating. It is retrogressive, draconian and clearly driven by ulterior motives and bad faith. We read mischief in its introduction," said the directors in a press statement read by Mr Peter Kanyago, the chairman of Chinga Tea Factory in Othaya at Gitugi Tea Factory.
The directors took issue with the proposal on appointment of board members to the sector's regulator, the Tea Board of Kenya.
Board members
They termed the proposed law as a weak-kneed attempt to hand over the control of the tea industry to the Agriculture minister, who will be required to pick five of the board's eleven members. They argued that tea farmers are under the proposed law given a raw deal in the board's membership as they will only have an allocation of three members considering that the others are Permanent Secretaries in ministries of Agriculture, Finance and Trade.
"We fear that such sweeping powers could be used to the detriment of the industry," said Kanyago, who is also a KTDA board member.
Source: The Standard | Online Edition
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