Kericho: Row over use of tea plucking machines continues

The controversy over the use of tea plucking machines continues in Kericho county.

Tea plantation owners are seeking to cut costs and improve efficiency through the mechanization of the tea plucking, a move that thousands of workers at the tea estates say has cost them their jobs. During the Thursday Mashujaa Day celebrations, Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai sustained his passionate defence for the social welfare of the residents.

The governor is accusing the two multinational tea companies of shortchanging the county government in their revenue remittance and has threatened to petition the ministry of lands for the revocation of the 99-year-old lease of thousands of acres of land occupied by the tea companies.

Speaking during the flagging off of the second batch of subsidised fertilizers to for farmers, the Deputy President revealed plans to convene a meeting between the governors of the affected counties of Kericho, Bomet and Nandi and investors in the multi-national tea companies in the region in a bid to resolve the stand off.

His remarks coming barely two weeks since a section of residents torched several tea plucking machines in protest at the mechanisation plans. The mass loss of jobs viewed as a serious threat to the economy of the county and its environs where a majority of the residents depend on the tea factories to eke a living.