Tea farmers in Kericho rejected the proposed Crops (Tea Industry) Regulations 2020 fronted by Agriculture CS Peter Munya to have the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) revert to the government.

In a stormy meeting to discuss the proposed tea sector regulations in Litein high school on Saturday, the farmers vowed to reject any such bid, saying the tea sector should only be run by farmers.

The meeting was also attended by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, governor Paul Chepkwony and a representative from the National Assembly Committee on delegated legislation.

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Cheruiyot led the farmers in demanding that the proposed new regulations be revised and farmers be allowed more time to peruse the said document and also give their input.

The lawmaker said there were clauses in the proposed regulations that did not favour tea farmers hence the need for amendments to incorporate the views of tea farmers. 

Similarly, Chepkwony echoed the opposition by tea farmers to management of KTDA going back to the government, noting that proposed laws failed to capture key issues raised by farmers.

The Kericho governor said certain clauses in the proposed tea regulations were detrimental to tea farmers hence their move to reject them in totality to allow incorporation of their views. 

Tharaka MP George Murugara, who chairs the committee on delegated legislation, promised the farmers their concerns would be presented to Agriculture CS Peter Munya for adoptions.