Protesting Kirinyaga tea farmers burn director’s houses in row over bonus

Three houses were Tuesday set ablaze as hundreds of rioting tea farmers continued wreaking havoc in Kamugunda, Kamwana and Kavote villages in Kirinyaga County in protests over what they say is poor bonus payment..

The farmers who deliver their produce to Thumaita Tea Factory in Gichugu constituency, raided the home of their director, Bundi Kagai, on Tuesday evening, chased away family members and torched his three houses.

They also destroyed his crops and made off with his three calves, a cow and five chicken as they protested over poor bonus payment.

A senior police officer, Mr Eliud Monari, lost property worth Sh2 million in the attack that left everyone shocked.

However, riot police repulsed the protesters as they attempted to raid the home of another director, Mr Mwangi Kega.

The incident brings to six the number of houses belonging to tea factory directors which have been destroyed since Monday when the farmers boycotted tea picking.

Earlier, the farmers burnt a heap of firewood which the factory management uses as fuel to process tea, causing tension in the area.

The farmers have been complaining that they were paid Sh41 instead of Sh46.50 per kilo for their tea.

MONEY MISUSED

They claim that their money was misused and vowed to continue protesting until their grievances are addressed.

The farmers blamed the directors for the low tea bonus.

"We elected them to ensure that our money is protected and we are paid well for our deliveries. Now they have failed us," said Mrs Jane Wangui.
Following the attack, security has been beefed up in the homes of all the six directors.

According to the Kirinyaga East Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Chepkwony, police have been deployed to guard the homesteads of directors.

"The lives of the directors are at risk and we have sent officers to their homes to protect them and their property," said Mr Chepkwony.

POLICE WARN AGAINST HOOLIGANISM

Mr Chepkwony accused the farmers of engaging in unlawful activities and warned that stern action would be taken against them.

"Hooliganism will not be tolerated in this area.

“Farmers should channel their grievances to the relevant authority if they are aggrieved instead of destroying property," he said.

A senior Kenya Tea Development Agency official, Mr Josphat Muchomba, downplayed the matter saying those causing chaos were not farmers.

"The people disrupting peace by getting involved in criminal activities are not growers. The real farmers are busy working in their farms," said Mr Muchomba.

But a spot check by the Nation established that farmers are not picking tea.

KTDA communications director, Ndiga Kithae, said the riot was sparked off by false information on social media.

"There was a false information which circulated in social media indicating that farmers had been paid Sh46.50 but the payment later reduced.

“The fact of the matter is that not even a single coin of the farmers has been lost," said Mr Kithae.