MP Wamuchomba Slams Government Over Low Tea Bonuses

Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has sharply criticised the government over what she termed the continued neglect and economic exploitation of Kenyan tea farmers, following reports of historically low bonus payouts across several tea-growing regions.

Speaking on the state of the tea industry, Wamuchomba said farmers had received some of the lowest bonuses recorded in decades, with reports indicating payouts as low as Ksh 11 per kilo in certain factories. She described the situation as unacceptable and a clear indication of policy failure.

“Tea farmers are being told that everything is fine, yet their bonuses tell a completely different story,” Wamuchomba said. “How do you explain to a farmer who has worked all year that Ksh 11 is a fair reward?”

The legislator dismissed government messaging that reforms in the tea sector were yielding positive results, arguing that the lived experiences of farmers contradicted official statements.

According to Wamuchomba, rising production costs—including fertilizer, labour, and transport—have significantly reduced farmers’ incomes, making the low bonuses even more devastating for households that depend entirely on tea.

“This is not politics or propaganda. It is about livelihoods,” she said. “Entire communities depend on tea. When farmers earn less, schools, health care, and local economies suffer.”

She further accused the government of relying on bloggers and public relations campaigns to downplay farmers’ concerns instead of addressing structural problems in the tea value chain.

Wamuchomba called for urgent reforms, including improved governance of tea factories, transparency in bonus calculations, and policies that guarantee better returns to farmers.

“This is not about the next election,” she said. “It is about safeguarding the future of tea farming for generations.”

Tea farming remains one of Kenya’s largest foreign exchange earners and supports millions of households directly and indirectly. Farmers and sector stakeholders have increasingly raised concerns over declining earnings despite strong global demand for Kenyan tea.

The government has yet to issue a detailed response to the claims regarding the low bonus payouts.