By: JEFFERS MWITI.

PHOTOS By:PHOEBE OKALL

Members of County Assembly from tea growing zones across Meru have welcomed the formation of Tea Cess Committee, which will oversee implementation of the Tea Cess Act passed by the Assembly. Committee comprising of Directors from Tea Factories across the County and other members constituted in line with Tea Cess Act, will work closely with MCAs from the respective regions to ensure grading and maintenance of roads.

While officiating over the official launch of the Committee, Governor Kiraitu Murungi said that the move will go a long way to improve infrastructure in the Tea growing areas and ease movement of tea to the factories in order to cut losses due to spoilage. The Governor said that the implementation of the Tea Cess Act was long overdue, as it will cushion the Tea Sector from facing the same predicament of collapse, as befell the Coffee Sector.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor and County Minister for Finance Hon. Titus Ntuchiu who will be the Executive member of the Committee, said that the County Government will release Sh25 million owed to Tea Factories, in the coming financial year 2019/20. Hon. Ntunchiu said that the County Government will work closely with the Committee, to ensure the Tea Cess is utilized for the intended purpose of maintaining roads.

The MCAs Dmk Kiogora, Mutembei Mbiuki, Martin Makasi, Mithika Silas Mucheke, Shadrach Kamencu, Geverse King'ori, Kimathi Ithibua, Kinyua Turibu, Romano Mwito and Patrick Muthuri welcomed the Committee formation as a step towards improvement of Tea sector. They pledged to work closely with Committee members from their Wards in order to incorporate the roads projects financed via Tea Cess, with their own Ward Fund Projects, in order to deliver quality works to the residents.

The event was also attended by KTDA Regional Manager Mr. Kirera and KTDA Board Member Mr. Murithi Ringera, who both pledged to work closely with the Committee, in order to improve the tea sector for the benefit of farmers across the County.
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