Over 250 Workers Left Jobless as Nakuru Tea Factory Shuts Down Over Impassable Roads
According to the factory’s manager, Kenneth Ambanya, operations were halted after transport challenges made it impossible to deliver green tea leaves to the facility. A 24-kilometre stretch of road leading to the factory has become impassable, disrupting the movement of both raw materials and finished products
By : Mweru Mbugua
More than 250 workers have been left without jobs following the closure of the Chemusian Tea Factory in Nakuru County, a shutdown blamed on the poor state of access roads
According to the factory’s manager, Kenneth Ambanya, operations were halted after transport challenges made it impossible to deliver green tea leaves to the facility. A 24-kilometre stretch of road leading to the factory has become impassable, disrupting the movement of both raw materials and finished products
Ambanya explained that private transporters who previously ferried tea leaves withdrew their services due to frequent vehicle breakdowns caused by the deteriorated road. Attempts to rely on the factory’s own fleet also failed, as the vehicles sustained repeated damage, forcing management to shut down operations
Residents of Kapkembu village say the closure has dealt a major blow to their livelihoods. Farmers are now forced to transport tea leaves over long distances to alternative factories in Kericho and Olenguruone, increasing costs and reducing profits
The situation has also affected other farm produce, including potatoes and milk. Locals report that transporters either decline to collect their goods or charge exorbitant fees due to the poor road conditions, leading to significant losses
Residents say the Mwangati–Chemusian road has been in a dilapidated state for nearly five years, with heavy rains in October 2025 worsening the damage. Deep gullies now line the road, threatening to cut off the entire area from economic activity
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While the Kenya Rural Roads Authority advertised a tender in 2025 for routine maintenance and spot improvements on the Mwangati–Kapkembu road, residents say no meaningful repairs have been carried out to date
They are now appealing to the government for urgent intervention, warning that further delays could completely cripple the local economy and leave more families without a source of income
