Kericho Tea Plantation

We took a break from the village to visit a ta plantation in Kericho owned by a compnay called Kericho Gold. Some of the information that I learned was that the groups go out to pick the tea leaves are called 'gangs' and they are usually between 200 and 300 people in a gang. They work from 7am to 3pm and in that time they must pick between 34kg and 80kg. They are paid 9KES per kilo, but are also given free housing, health care and free schooling. The owner however, gets 22KES per Kilo!
The tea bushes were first planted in 1928 and those bushes are still giving tea. It takes 3 years for a bush to grow, and they are pruned back after 2 years. If you don't pick from a bush, it can grow up to 8meters tall and it will flower and give seeds. But they use cuttings to grow new bushes instead and only allow them to grow to chest height since that makes it easier for picking. When they are picking, they only take the new light green shoots because they make the best tea. The pickers work in one area for one day, then rest the filed for 14 days so it can grow again. They pick 6 days a week and work year round, but they are evacuated from the fields in heavy rains.

I will tell you all about the Tea Factory later