Donya Moves Parliament Into a Heated Debate; We Can't Pay Commercial Sex Workers Better Than Tea Farmers!

BY ERIC ABUGA

An seemingly angry Kisii Woman Rep Dorice Donya moved members of the National Assembly into stiches on her statement over the low bonuses tea farmers from Gusii are set to paid. 

In her statement, Donya made a comparison on the payment arguing that commercial sex workers could be receiving better pay as compared to the struggling tea farmers from Gusii and other parts of Western Region.

"We have different workers across a number of sectors and there is no doubt that even commercial sex workers are now being paid better to the bonuses our tea farmers." Rising on a point of order, Donya said she had not received any response from the Agriculture Committee despite thrice raising the issue of low pay on tea bonuses.

"Farmers are blaming their leaders for the drop in tea bonuses. We are aggrieved on the payment. We need the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary to appear in Parliament and explain to the House on what is happening in the tea industry."

Donya hinted on moving to court to seek answers on the deteriorating pay to tea farmers. "There are enough advocates even in parliament who can help us on the Judicial process. We can decide to sleep in parliament until we have received clear answers on what is happening in our eta industry."

Agriculture Committee Vice Chairperson Yegon Brighton Leonard said the concerns from Donya were genuine arguing that the Ministry had early responded through writing.

"We were not satisfied with the responses and we had scheduled for a meeting with the Ministry. We intended to call Donya and two other members."
Yegon said the Committee will summon all stakeholders in the industry to clear the concerns. 

Trans Nzoia Woman Rep Lilian Sioi joined Donya in her agitation saying; "The Government's subside program to farmers was a step to the right direction but the current stalemate in the tea sector was hurting farmers. We need to give farmers the best price for their farm produce."

Mukurwe-ini member of parliament John Kaguchia wondered why KTDA had reduce its pay to tea farmers. "It is important to note from Government records that tea earnings increased from Sh 185 billion last year to Sh 215 billion this year. Where did the increase go? This increase should be put into the farmers pocket. Donya's question must be answered without delay."

Emurua Dikir MP Johana Ngeno some leaders have failed to understand the gravity of the low tea bonuses. "The pay to farmers in Kisii and Nyamira have been paid peanunts. It is time to form a special committe to look into this issue. It is painful that some farmers are now uprooring their tea. It cannot be that in this era famers are paid as low as Sh 10 per kilo for their tea produce."

Sotik MP Francis Sigei said famers from his home area were paid Sh 12 per kilo. "Our people are suffering I am a farmer and know what our people are feeling. A we serving the same people across the Country. KTDA must be dismantled. The idea that Donya wants to move to court is because of the pain our tea farmers have ben subjected to."

Nominated MP Dorothy Muthoni Ikiara said the matter was of national importance. "Farmers are crying, they don't even know how to pay the loans they had taken. From the farmers to tea auction; we need to know where the money is. Let us do investigations into the operations at KTDA and at the Tea Board."

Tigania West Member of Parliament John Mutunga called for a formation of a caucus to look into the tea sector in the Country.