Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua took their Azimio campaigns to Bomet and Kericho Counties over the weekend.
While addressing the members of the community whose main economic activity is tea farming, Raila said he supports the withdrawal of tea plucking machines introduced by multinationals operating locally, which increased unemployment in the area.
He told residents of Sotik that technology should not hurt families and the country’s economy, emphasising that the government should protect workers.
“I have been against the use of these gadgets as they contribute to unemployment. It is a matter that must be reviewed,” Raila said.
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The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli who accompanied Raila during the campaigns echoed what Raila said and disclosed that over 200,000 in the South Rift have lost their jobs to the machines.
He accused the local lawmakers of colluding with the multinationals and seldom speak about matters affecting workers.
“The problem with local lawmakers is that they are compromised by multinationals as soon as they are elected. They never speak on issues affecting workers,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli told the residents of Kericho that he has in the past warned about the collapse of the economies of several towns within the region if the machines keep doing human work.
“I have repeatedly stated that the economies of Bomet, Kericho and Nandi Hills towns will collapse if these machines are deployed to plantations by the multinationals. Companies are laying off employees, reducing families’ purchasing power,” Atwoli added.
Atwoli said some countries have outlawed the use of machines while Kenya keeps embracing them even at the expense of Kenyan citizens.
James Finlays, George Williamson, Uniliver, and Sotik Tea are among the multinational and local firms that make use of tea plucking machines.
