BIG TROUBLE IN KERICHO TEA INDUSTRY AS LOCAL POLITICIANS ISSUES THREAT TO BURNT DOWN THE RECENTLY INTRODUCDED MECHANISED TEA PICKING MACHINES.

Writes Leon Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

TROUBLE is brewing up with the tea industries based in the South Rift following a recent threats issued by local politicians who vowed to mobilize their followers to invade the tea estates and burnt down the recently introduced tea picking machines.

The politician have allayed the fears that the gradual introduction of the green tea picking machines would eventually render their people jobless once the program is fully implemented

The tea industry is, arguably still the largest employer in the region, engaging more than 20 thousands workers in Kericho, Bomet, Bureti and Sotiuk districts alone..

A number of the multinational tea companies operating in Kericho, Bureti,Bomet and Sotik have already put in use the mechanized tea plucking system, which the politicians argues, would render their people jobless. But the number of machines in use are negligible, and in most estates, the green leaves is still being picked manually.

It is also imperative to remember that when Francis Atwoli strongly opposed the introduction of mechanized tea picking by the industry player, it was this same politicians who vehemently opposed his move and sided with the companies.

Sources in the industry says, it is only at Sotik Highland Tea Company based in Sotik district where the introduction of mechanized tea plucking system is almost attained 50 per cent. But other firms such as Unilever and Finlay’s tea company still relied on manual tea picking.

the introduction of mechanized tea picking system is almost 50per cent. But in Kericho and Bureti where the bulk of major estates are allocated, mechanized green leaves tea picking is only in small scale. The rest of the green leaves picking work is done manually

The resolution to invade the tea estates by demonstrators and forcefully dismantle and destroy the tea plucking machines was passed at a public rally attended by hundreds of workers at Kabororet Stadium, Which is owned by James Finlay’s Tea Company, one of the largest tea manufacturing multinational company. The firm is also involved in the large scale production of flowers in the region.

The Harambee meeting was attended by the Belgut MP Charles Keter, who is also an Assistant Minister for Energy in the coalition government. He was accompanied by 16 civic leaders from both Kericho Municipality and the County Council of Kipsigis.

It emerged that the management of James Finlays Tea Company Ltd in whose workers had called the harambee meeting for their own welfare did not send a senior manager, but had posted its donation of Kshs 10,000, which was conveyed at the meeting by one of its junior managing staff. This provoked angers of the local leaders who vowed to teach the company a lesson.

The invasion of the estates by local people was slated for last Tuesday June 16. But it was later postponed indefinitely after the reported intervention by the Minister for Roads Franklin Bett who asked the politicians and the management of the company to hold a joint meeting for the purpose of dialogue..The meeting took place on Thursday 18,2009, but its deliberations have yet to be disclosed..

The Union of Kenya Plantations and Agriculture Workers Kericho branch supported the action, but the branch secretary Joshua Owuor Otieno said he did not approve the use of force and destruction of the tea picking machines. He said, however, that the Union did not approve the use of force in resolving what is the real sense, could be termed the issue as an industrial dispute, and which could only be resolved through the laid down industrial regulations as opposed to the use of violence The Union’s Secretary General Francis Atwoli could not be reached for his immediate comment.

Interviewed local leaders, however, described the politicians action as unacceptable and amounted to intimidating the industry operators. One of those who spoke to this writer advised the politicians to leave the industrial issues to the unionist.

Lt. Gen {rtd} John Koech, the national chairman of the United Democratic Movement{UDM}, which is the second party after the ODM with sizeable following among members of the Kipsigis community told those advocating the use of violence to desist as such actions could be counter-productive, and to find the way of living in harmony with the multinational tea companies, which he said were playing vital role in the country’s economy.

.A survey carried out by this writer indicated that the workers in the tea companies did not approve the use of violence in resolving any industrial dispute, and felt that the dismantling of the tea picking machines by means of force could jeopardize their chances and perhaps cause them their jobs.

The workers wanted the politician to steer clear of the tea industry and to leave the matter or whatever dispute to be tackled by their Union and not outsiders or a gang of organized youths hired like mercenaries to invade the tea estates and cause mayhem.

He relations between one of the major tea companies, James Finlays, which is the largest tea processing companies has not been so cordial in recent months following allegations that some of the company senior managers were colluding with politicians for the purpose of harassing its management.

It is also being alleged that some of the issues involved the disagreement could be traced to tribalism and clannish. Some of the company senior manager, who could not secure quick promotion to the top have allegedly resorted to feeding politicians with pack of lies about the operations of the company. Other, have become jealousy to any non-Kipsigis promoted to the top and have resorted to peddling of distorted information given to politicians for their own selfish interests and survival.

Other sources are pointing an accusing finger to some of the retired former senior managers of the company, who are said to be still interested in controlling the company’s day to day management activities from outside, and are allegedly working with their cronies. .still in the service of the company..This is one of the reasons why the locals politicians have been advised to go slow on contentious issues, which are the sole responsibility of the union, and not the politicians have been accused of hypocrisy.

IT HAS ALSO EMERGED THAT Hon Keter has been involved in private business of transportation with the Finlay’s Tea Company for a long time, and that the company has contributed immensely towards certain development projects in Belgut such as schools, water supplies and schools and many other of important projects, which are useful for socio-economic of the local people..

Introduction of clannish and tribalism in the services of the tea companies is described by level minded members of the Kipsigis elite as dangerous and unacceptable. They want the company to be set free to hire qualified personnel of their own choices. If the trend of pressurizing these companies to hire only relatives and friends of certain people irrespective of their qualifications and ability to do the job, then these firms headed for dooms,” commented one civic leader in Kericho..

Ends

ledoderaomolo@yahoo.com

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Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:55:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: BIG TROUBLE IS BREWING IN KERICHO TEA INDUSTRY AS POLITICIAN ISSUES THREAT