The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has raised alarm over a new phone scam that is targeting tea farmers across the country.
The scam involves fraudsters calling farmers and falsely claiming they can help increase the weight of their green leaf tea.
KTDA issued an official warning to farmers on April 15, advising them to be extremely cautious and report any suspicious callers immediately to their local tea factories or the appropriate authorities.
In their statement, KTDA said, “We are deeply concerned about reports of individuals calling tea farmers, pretending they have the ability to boost the weight or kilos of their green leaf tea.”
The agency strongly urged farmers not to fall for the scam, reminding them to stay alert and report such conmen without delay.
This warning comes just weeks after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe took firm action against the practice of green leaf tea hawking.
This illegal trade involves farmers and independent processors bypassing the official system by buying and selling green leaf tea directly, instead of going through the approved tea factories.
According to CS Kagwe, such practices are in direct violation of the Tea Act and disrupt the proper functioning of the tea supply chain.
While addressing the Senate on March 12, CS Kagwe said, “Starting immediately, the hawking of tea across the country will be brought to a halt.
Farmers must deliver their tea directly to their designated factories to maintain the required quality standards.”
He stressed that stopping tea hawking is a key goal of the government in order to prevent the circulation of poor-quality tea leaves in the market.
The Cabinet Secretary went on to say that tea hawking focuses too much on quantity, which compromises the quality of tea.
This has led to a drop in auction prices, and ultimately, farmers are paid less for their tea. To protect the tea industry, the government plans to strictly enforce the Tea Registration and Licences Regulations, 2025.
Further tightening the rules, CS Kagwe issued another warning on April 8. In the new notice, he made it clear that any factory found to be involved in tea hawking risks losing its operating licence.
“If a factory is found engaging in the hawking of green leaf tea, it will be delicensed as per the Tea Act, 2020,” he announced.
According to the law, any farmer caught selling their tea to a factory where they are not registered will face legal consequences. The penalties include a fine of Ksh100,000 or a possible jail sentence of up to six months.
Tea farmers are now being urged to follow the proper channels, remain alert, and report any suspicious activity to ensure they are protected from fraud and that the integrity of the tea industry is maintained.
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