Welfare of tea farmers holds sway in Konoin

Politics surrounding the welfare of tea growers is shaping the parliamentary race in Konoin Constituency, Bomet County.

Though straddled by thousands of acres of scenic green tea plantations that are home to nearly five multinational tea companies as well as the Mau forest, the constituency is, ironically, still reeling in poverty.

Impassable roads, low tea prices and lack of agricultural extension officers remain a sad reality for the area that boasts of 55,818 registered voters across its seven wards.

TEA REVENUE
Its status does not befit a region that was among the first in Kenya to ‘see the light’ in the early 1950s, when a majority of its children began going to school.

This exposure was partly due to the setting up of the multinational tea companies in the region, but which have, instead, been accused of being stingy with regard to their corporate social responsibilities.

Characterised in the past by colourless politics, Konoin is now pushing its limits to ensure that the elephant in the room is dealt with.

The driving factor is the dwindling earnings from tea due to over-taxation and cartels that have condemned locals to poverty.

MANIFESTO
Despite previous regimes making unending promises to turn around the sector to enable farmers earn better, it only got worse with the lowest payment having been Sh8 per kilo in 2015.

Candidates seeking the seat are therefore under pressure to detail their plans and commitment to improving the situation.

The dynamics in the tea sector and bad roads could be one reason the incumbent — MP Sammy Koech — lost the Jubilee ticket during the primary to a newcomer in politics, Mr Brighton Yegon.

TEA ECONOMY
Mr Yegon garnered 13,700 votes against Mr Koech’s 10,000.

But Mr Koech has vowed to turn the tables on his rival come the August 8 General Election when he will run as an independent candidate.

Mr Yegon, a little known, youthful, university lecturer presented himself as the biblical David, who will slay Goliath manifested in the tea sector problems and lack of development in the region. He beat a total of 13 contestants.

The aspirant believes he is the breath of fresh air that Konoin’s politics desperately needs.

“Top on the list of my development agenda is to improve our tea economy. I will do all I can to increase the monthly earnings from the current Sh15 to Sh20-25 per kilo.

"This involves taking a Bill to Parliament to amend the Tea Act, reducing the hefty taxes, among others,” he says.

ELECTRICITY
He wondered why the multinational tea companies were not extending their corporate social responsibilities to locals, despite drawing their profit from the community.

African Highland’s, Unilever, Finlays, Brooke Bond, Tea Zone Parastatal, County Embomos Tea are some of the companies the parliamentary hopeful plans to engage on how they would contribute to the development of the region.

After the government connected the tea estates to the national power grid, the multinationals have never bothered to share the electricity with households.

“We will sit down with the leadership of these multinationals and request them to give us a share of their profits in form of an agreement.

"If they make Sh3 billion profit, they can offer only Sh60 to Sh100 million to enrich the education bursary for our children,” Mr Yegon said.

AGRICULTURE
He added: “I would also like to improve infrastructure in schools, especially laboratories and libraries and find an alternative source of income for locals so that they can diversify.

"Although agriculture is a county function, we will work together to promote horticulture and dairy farming.”

Four other candidates, Cosmas Korir of Chama Cha Mashinani, Joel Kibet (Kanu) Joseph Kiplagat (ODM) and Joel Kiprono Rop (independent), are seeking the parliamentary seat.

They have accused Mr Koech of failing to defend the rights of tea farmers and of being dormant during Assembly sessions and failing to initiate any law.

“It is time for the young blood to articulate the people’s agenda.

"They used to say we are leaders of tomorrow, but they did not bother to set up a good platform for us. But still, the tomorrow they talked about has come,” Mr Korir said.

JUBILEE ZONE
But Mr Koech insists this was easier said than done.

“Issues of tea pricing are global and are beyond a single leader. But I have many other development records including distribution of education bursaries to more learners,” Mr Koech said.

Mr Koech is serving his second term, having won the seat first in 2002 on a Kanu ticket.

He lost the seat in 2007 to Dr Julius Kones.

Mr Yegon says his bigger battle ended with his winning the nominations and that with the Jubilee ticket in his custody, his chances of winning stood at 70 per cent.

“The run up to the nominations were tougher because I had to popularise myself and send my message of hope across. It was a very expensive journey.

"But I would like to state without fear of contradiction that this is a Jubilee zone,” he told Nation on phone.