Deputy President William Ruto explains low tea prices
Deputy President William Ruto addresses members of the public during a fundraiser for the purchase of a school bus for Metkei Girls Secondary School in Elgeyo-Marakwet County on the area on June 07, 2014. PHOTO/JARED NYATAYA
What you need to know:
- He said the country had 153 million extra kilogrammes of tea last year resulting in the low prices
- The Government has initiated reforms at the Mombasa tea auction to improve tea prices
Deputy President William Ruto has attributed the current low prices of tea to glut in the market.
He said the country had 153 million extra kilogrammes of tea last year resulting in the low prices but said the Government has initiated reforms at the Mombasa tea auction to improve tea prices.
“Half a million farmers and four million people depend on this crop and we cannot let it go to waste under our watch,” he said.
Tea prices dropped to a six-year low spelling more doom for farmers who have already been forced to take a pay cut in the wake of the sector’s dismal performance.
Prices at the weekly auction fell to $2 (Sh174) per kilogramme representing a 17 per cent drop from the $2.30 (Sh200) recorded in June last year as the market contends with oversupply.
The Deputy President was speaking on Sunday at the Konoin Africa Inland Church in Bomet County.
Mr Ruto at the same time said 500,000 people will be connected to the national grid this year adding that the government was determined to ensure more Kenyans get electricity connection.
