MPs root for new legislation to tame tea brokers
The Parliamentary committee on delegated and legislation spent part of the day on a fact finding tour of Chai Trading Company (CTC) in Mombasa County which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Limited.
During the tour of the committee chaired by William Kamket, the issue of the lack of a proper legislation on the issue of brokers and farmers in the tea industry took center stage.
At one stage the CTC management was put to task to stipulate whether they are tea brokers, buyers or both.
CTC Managing Director Charles Kibui refuted claims the company is a broker in the tea industry in the country.
He told the parliamentary committee the role of the company is warehousing and logistics for their tea buyers at the local Mombasa tea auction.
“The company is not a tea broker and that term is misplaced and misinformed,” he insisted.
The CTC boss told the committee the company is wealthy with assets and can get loans from any financial institution.
On its part the Parliamentary committee told journalists they are on a fact finding mission to establish what the company was doing in the coast region.
Kamket who is the Tiaty lawmaker said the committee has toured 47 counties on the list of the tea farmers for the Kenya Tea Development Agency and subsidiary companies.
He added the committee is interested in the tea legislation before them and they listen to them in the same manner they have listened to farmers.
“After the completion of the fact finding tour the committee will retreat and come up with a comprehensive report,” he pointed out.
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