Tea growers decry losses due to land invasion

A worker picks tea leaves at a tea estate in Kericho. Sitoi Tea Estate in Nandi County has lost more than Sh150 million in the past five months due to widespread land invasions and illegal activities, an industry lobby group claimed.
What you need to know:
- EPK board chairman Chris Flowers said the company has immensely contributed to jobs and wealth creation in Kenya. EPK, part of UK-based Camellia Plc, supports more than 14,000 smallholder farmers in Nandi County and employs more than 8,000 people at peak times.
- In 2024, EPK paid over Sh3.75 billion to farmers and invested Sh2 billion annually in community projects and procurement opportunities. Tea and coffee are major economic drivers in Kenya, accounting for 23 percent of the country's total exports and supporting over five million livelihoods.
Sitoi Tea Estate in Nandi County has lost more than Sh150 million in the past five months due to widespread land invasions and illegal activities, an industry lobby group claimed.
The Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA) claimed that criminal gangs have taken control of parts of the tea estate owned by Eastern Produce Kenya Limited (EPK) since August.
“At Sitoi Tea Estate, the invaders have been actively plucking the firm’s tea crop, occasioning more than Sh30 million monthly losses since August 2024, and have also taken over prime parcels of land, including the Sitoi Airstrip, a key infrastructure installation for the day to day operations” KTGA Chairman, Mr Silas Njibwakale.
The lobby group criticised the government and security agencies for their inadequate response to these issues, accusing them of enabling lawlessness and ignoring court orders.
Mr Njibwakale alleged there were recent incidents at Sambret Estate in Kericho County, where armed groups attempted to raid the property and engage in illegal logging.
“KTGA has observed, with grave concern, the invasion and illegal tea harvesting activities at Eastern Produce Kenya’s (EPK) tea estate in Nandi County and an attempted raid by armed individuals at Browns East Africa’s Sambret Estate,” said Mr Njibwakale.
The official called on President William Ruto and the security agencies to intervene urgently, warning that the invasions would have dire economic implications for the industry.
EPK board chairman Chris Flowers said the company has immensely contributed to jobs and wealth creation in Kenya. EPK, part of UK-based Camellia Plc, supports more than 14,000 smallholder farmers in Nandi County and employs more than 8,000 people at peak times.
In 2024, EPK paid over Sh3.75 billion to farmers and invested Sh2 billion annually in community projects and procurement opportunities. Tea and coffee are major economic drivers in Kenya, accounting for 23 percent of the country's total exports and supporting over five million livelihoods.