Meru: War on tea hawking intensifies

Meru County Commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga has ordered a crackdown on tea hawking.

The order comes in the wake of a meeting between KTDA managers from Meru and the County commissioner where it was resolved that a crackdown on tea hawking be launched.

The recent trade war between farmers, Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and private investors comes at a time where farmers are being lured by private factories offering Sh25 per kilo, compared to Sh15 paid by KTDA.

KTDA has blamed tea hawking for the increase in tea theft and harvesting of low quality and rejected leaf.

However, Njeru Industries managing director Henry Njeru has accused KTDA of using its monopoly to kill competition and intimidate farmers.

“Any attack on private investors, who are establishing manufacturing units and paying farmers above the market rate is clearly an act of economic sabotage. You cannot brand farmers hawkers when they decide where to sell their produce,” Mr Njeru said.