Githunguri MP Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba has expressed strong concerns over proposed amendments to the Tea Act, warning that new levies could harm farmers and undermine Kenya’s once-thriving tea industry.
Speaking in Parliament, Wamuchomba said that exposing a single crop to over 42 taxes and deductions is unsustainable and erodes gains made in the sector. She criticised what she described as a parliamentary environment dominated by executive interests, leaving smallholder farmers vulnerable.
“Without support for our farmers, the dream of economic growth remains a fallacy,” Wamuchomba said, adding that the sector’s contribution to Kenya’s foreign exchange earnings cannot be ignored. She stressed that additional levies could reduce production, discourage investment, and deepen poverty in tea-growing regions.
The MP urged lawmakers to reconsider the proposed amendments, advocate for policies that strengthen farmers’ livelihoods, and ensure the tea sector remains competitive globally. Wamuchomba also called for more public dialogue on the impact of taxation on the agriculture sector, stressing that decisions must include farmers’ voices.
