Gov’t to delicense tea factories caught in green leaf hawking – CS Kagwe Warns

The CS emphasized that the government will not tolerate any practice that jeopardizes the integrity of the tea value chain or endangers the livelihoods of hardworking farmers.

Speaking at a high-level consultative meeting held at Kilimo House in Nairobi, CS Kagwe stated that the Ministry of Agriculture will take decisive action against factories or individuals who violate the law.

“Factories found perpetuating the hawking of green leaf will be delicensed in accordance with the Tea Act, 2020. This malpractice not only compromises quality but directly robs farmers of their rightful earnings,” he stated.

The announcement followed a long-running dispute between Kapkoros Tea Factory PLC in Bomet County and its satellite factories—Motigo, Tirgaga, and Olenguruone—which threatened to derail tea farmers' progress in Bomet and Nakuru counties.

Farmers from Motigo and Olenguruone have been refusing to pluck or deliver green leaf for the past week in protest of the parent factory's continued financial and operational dependence.

The boycott resulted in significant losses, as thousands of kilos of green leaf went to waste.

The farmers' push for autonomy was not new. On December 15, 2023, they voted overwhelmingly in favor of account separation and complete independence from Kapkoro.

This decision was later reaffirmed at the Annual General Meeting on December 12, 2024 and the Board Meeting on January 9, 2025. Despite these resolutions, the transition had stalled, leading to the recent protest action.

The Nairobi meeting, which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, was critical in determining a path forward. Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) CEO Willy Mutai, Bomet Senator Hilary Sigei, and the entire board of directors from Kapkoros Tea Factory and its affiliate factories were all in attendance.

In a rare show of unity, all parties pledged to respect farmers' wishes and reached an agreement on a comprehensive ten-point resolution aimed at restoring harmony and increasing productivity in the region's tea factories.

The farmers demanded the immediate financial and operational separation of Motigo and Olenguruone from Kapkoros Tea Factory PLC, which was one of the key resolutions reached.

The leaders also agreed that farmers from the two factories would resume plucking and delivering green leaf without delay. The coding and issuance of smart cards to farmers, which are critical for efficient tracking and payment, will proceed as planned.

The Kapkoros board has been directed to hold a Special General Meeting (SGM) within 21 days to formally address the separation and guide the transition in a fair and transparent manner.

In addition, all parties committed to ceasing hostilities, withdrawing active court cases and petitions, and collaborating constructively.

The Kapkoros Group will also contribute to the construction of the new Kamogoso Tea Factory under a mutually agreed-upon framework, while government funding will be used to modernize the older factories.

Furthermore, the board, together with KTDA (MS) Ltd, was tasked with implementing urgent measures to reduce production costs and improve tea quality across all four factories.