Farmers want tea factories exempted from road levies

Murang’a, Monday, April 24, 2023

K.N.A By Bernard Munyao

Two tea farmers have petitioned the Murang’a County Assembly to have the local tea factories exempted from paying levies charged on road construction materials.

The farmers who appeared before the Assembly’s Public Works Committee decried huge costs incurred by the factories in sourcing the materials to maintain roads to facilitate collection and transportation of green leaf.

Eutychus Ngechu and David Muturi told members of the committee chaired by Moses Gachui that maintenance of the roads reduces earnings of farmers since they are deducted road maintenance levies by their respective companies.

The farmers argued that they were disadvantaged as they are left with the responsibility to main roads within tea zones unlike farmers from macadamia, coffee and avocado areas where the roads are maintained by the government.

Ngechu who is allied to the Ikumbi tea factory stated that in 2022, his factory incurred a cost of Sh8 million to maintain the local roads adding another Sh201,000 was paid as cess and levy to the county government.

“If the tea factories are exempted from the levies by the county government, the money will in turn increase earnings to farmers. The farmers are levied many taxes leaving them with meagre earnings,” he added.

Ngechu added, “It's high time the county government comes to the rescue of the farmers and embarks on the maintenance of the roads or exempt the factories from the levies.”

On his part, Muturi, a farmer affiliated to Makombi tea factory in Kigumo sub county, told the committee that last year, his factory spent Sh11.2 million on maintenance of roads, where Sh985,634 was paid to Murang’a County Government as cess and levy.

“It is sad that the tea farmers apart from paying taxes and levies are forced to cater for rehabilitation of their roads to ensure their green leaf gets to the factory at the appropriate time,” noted Muturi.

The farmers lodged the petition on January 23, seeking charges levied on quarry waste, marram and gravel be removed so as to help farmers and have better roads to facilitate transportation of the green leaf for processing.

Kangari MCA Moses Mirara who is a member of the committee observed that the issue of roads is a thorn in the flesh in the tea growing zones saying the factories have been undertaking the rehabilitation responsibility.

“I support having the factories being exempted from paying the levies so that the farmers can get increased earnings. The Assembly should come up with various measures to assist our farmers,” added the MCA.

After getting views on the petition, the committee is expected to come up with a report which will be tabled before the assembly for adoption.

Courtesy K.N.A