Former KTDA Chairman David Ichoho Urges Farmers to Embrace Tea Bonus Amid Reforms
David Ichoho, the immediate former national chairman of the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA), has called on tea farmers to embrace this year’s bonus payments with optimism, urging them to steer clear of those politicizing issues in the tea sector. In a recent interview on a local vernacular radio station, Mr. Ichoho expressed confidence that the future is bright for tea farmers, emphasizing that the current payments reflect a significant improvement compared to previous years.
Despite some factories not meeting bonus expectations, Ichoho encouraged farmers to stay hopeful, attributing the positive changes to the reforms implemented during his tenure. He noted that the bonus improvements are a result of efforts by the reformist KTDA Board, which he led from 2021. Under his leadership, the tea sector was revitalized across all 71 KTDA-managed factories, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and ensuring that farmers reaped the benefits of their hard work.
“Let us reflect on where we have come from. Last December, we pushed the bonus from Ksh 16 to Ksh 25. Our goal is to ensure that farmers receive timely payments, especially the monthly earnings,” said Ichoho. He acknowledged that market interference has been one of the challenges impacting farmers but remained confident that ongoing reforms would lead to long-term improvements.
Several farmers, including Mr. John Mukui Zac, echoed Ichoho’s sentiments, expressing gratitude for the recent improvements in bonus payouts. “Since I started tea farming, I have never received such a significant pay like this time. I urge my fellow farmers to accept the increment and look forward to even brighter days,” said Mr. Mukui.
Ichoho also cautioned farmers against participating in protests, warning that such actions could damage the international market and make buyers hesitant to purchase Kenyan tea. He urged farmers to be thankful for the tripled income they’ve received over the past three years, attributing the success to his transformational leadership.
The former chairman further highlighted the challenges ahead in maintaining the record-breaking bonus payments, acknowledging that sustaining these gains would require continued efforts. He urged farmers to celebrate their achievements, with mid-October set for the distribution of the record-breaking tea bonuses.
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