MP: Tea Farmers Receive Less Pay Than 'Twilight Girls'

A Kenyan Member of Parliament has sparked a massive debate after stating in the House that tea farmers in Western Kenya are receiving such poor bonuses that twilight girls are earning better pay.

Dorice Donya, the Kisii County Woman Representative, made the forceful comparison during a parliamentary session while raising concerns over the rapidly falling tea payments.

The Plight of Falling Tea Bonuses

The representative spoke as she awaited a response from the Chairperson of Agriculture regarding the tea sector. She noted that when the initial request for a statement was made, farmers were being paid 22 shillings per kilo.

However, the situation deteriorated quickly. The MP informed the House that payments had now dropped to just 10 shillings per kilo in bonuses.

This drastic fall means that bonuses paid to farmers have effectively been cut by half. The representative expressed deep concern that farmers, particularly those from the Kisii region, Kericho, and Western Kenya, were being "abused" and paid "peanuts".

“Tea farmers, especially from Kisii, Kericho, and Western, are paid peanuts; in fact, they are abused, Madam Speaker. I have no better language to express my concerns about what they've done to our tea farmers,” she lamented.

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When the payments were higher, the MP said that farmers from the Kisii region and Western areas had contacted her, appreciating that someone was finally addressing their concerns.

A Shocking Earnings Comparison

The Woman Rep claimed that after the parliamentary outcry, the payment dropped, leading farmers to blame the parliamentarians for the reduction.

To highlight the desperate financial situation facing growers, she made a stark comparison between various professions.

“Twilight girls are even paid better, Madam Speaker, than the Tea bonuses that they were giving our farmers.”

The representative noted that society has different types of workers, listing teachers, nurses, and night girls. She argued that the comparison showed the appalling state of the tea sector.

Ultimatum for the Minister

The MP became emotionally charged when expressing the grievances regarding the low tea bonuses. She stated there was "nothing to be proud about" regarding the current situation.

She used the strong comparison to suggest that farmers should consider stopping cultivation if they are going to receive such poor returns.

“We want to tell our farmers to stop farming and go do what we'll give.”

The representative issued an ultimatum to the government regarding the poor payments. She demanded that the Minister for Agriculture appear before the House to provide an immediate response.

The Member of Parliament declared that she would not leave the house until the answers were provided. She dramatically stated, "I'm going to sleep here, Madam Speaker, the chairman must answer".

This outburst brings intense focus onto the remuneration received by essential agricultural workers in Western Kenya.