Munya orders inquiry into Kenyan tea price plunge PATRICK ALUSHULA Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya is reading malice in the deteriorating value of the Kenyan tea at the weekly auction, disputing the official explanation of a glut in the market and low demand from overseas buyers. The Mombasa Tea Auction and the multinational firms say the current lower tea prices have been occasioned by a sharp decline in demand from buyers, resulting in a glut. However, Mr Munya said the sharp price decline was unusual. However, he did not specify who he suspects of interference, adding that the ministry is following up on the issue, especially with the Kenya Tea Development Agency that accounts for more than half of the total beverage at the auction. He argued that there is no glut from the world’s major producers. Tea prices last week touched a decade low in what is now worrying stakeholders in the sector. The value of the beverage has performed poorly in the past t
Supreme Court declines to hear petition on multinational tea estates
Wednesday July 07 2021
By JOSEPH WANGUI
Summary
The Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition by the Kericho county government for an adivisory opinion that would have seen a number of multinational tea companies lose their land.
The apex court faulted the county government for failing to first seek the advice of the Attorney-General on the ownership of land parcels it claims were forcely acquired by the British colonial administration from the Kipsigis and Talai communities.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition by the Kericho county government for an adivisory opinion that would have seen a number of multinational tea companies lose their land.
THE STANDARD
NEWS
Monica Oluoch (left) will represent tea farmers at Nyansiongo Tea Factory. [Stanley Ongwae, Standard]
The newly-elected Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) directors under the tea reforms reported to their various factories on Monday to cold receptions as senior officials were conspicuously missing.
All the six factories in Nyamira County held their elections on April 3, 2021, according to the government’s directive. The immediate officeholders were not allowed to vie, according to the reforms introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture.
A spot check across the county revealed that armed police officers patrolled various tea factories to counter any resistance.