KERICHO – Tea farmers in Kericho County are advocating for the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) to establish a health insurance scheme to help mitigate the high medical costs they face. This appeal comes amid concerns over the economic burdens that health expenses impose on these farmers, despite their significant contributions to the nation’s economy through tea production.

According to Kenya News Agency, a local farmer from Chemoiben in Bureti Sub-County, the need for a dedicated health insurance cover is critical for over 600,000 small-scale tea farmers across the country. Langat expressed this during an interview with KNA in Litein, where he highlighted the heavy reliance of farmers on their tea earnings to support their families’ educational and healthcare needs. “When health issues come up, they have little left to pay for medication and the purchase of drugs,” Langat stated, emphasizing the strain on financial resources that lack of insurance causes.

The proposed insurance scheme, as suggested by Langat, would involve a minimal deduction—possibly as little as one shilling—from each kilo of tea produced. This fund would contribute towards establishing and maintaining health insurance and healthcare facilities for farmers. He further recommended that each tea factory or zone should build its own hospital or health facility to directly support its shareholders, complementing the efforts of county and national governments in healthcare provision.

Langat’s proposal echoes broader initiatives within the agricultural sector, where multinational tea estates in Kericho have already begun to establish health cottages as part of their corporate social responsibility. These facilities provide basic health services and treatments to workers and their communities, setting a precedent for what could be expanded upon with KTDA’s involvement.

The push for health insurance reflects a growing recognition among tea farmers of the need for more comprehensive support systems that ensure their health and economic stability, contributing to the overall sustainability of the tea industry in Kenya.