Over 250 Workers Left Jobless as Poor Roads Force Closure of Tea Factory

More than 250 employees of Chemusian Tea Factory in Nakuru County have lost their jobs following the shutdown of the facility due to impassable roads.

The factory, which has been inactive for over three months, stopped operations after transportation challenges made it impossible to move green leaves from farms to the processing plant.

At the heart of the crisis is a 24-kilometre stretch of the Mwangati-Chemusian road, which has deteriorated to the point of being impassable.

Deep gullies and severe surface damage have cut off reliable access to the factory, crippling transport and logistics.

Factory Manager Kenneth Ambanya said the situation became untenable after private transporters withdrew their services due to frequent vehicle breakdowns.

“Most of the work was being done by private transporters, and those transporters withdrew because of vehicle maintenance issues due to breakdowns.”

“So we were left using our own fleet, but it kept breaking down until we even had to tow the vehicles with a tractor, which made things even more difficult. We had no other option but to close the factory,” said Kenneth Ambanya, Manager of Chemusian Tea Factory.

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Farmers Forced to Seek Alternative Markets

With the factory closed, tea farmers in Kapkembu village are now forced to transport their produce to distant factories, increasing costs and reducing profits.

“We are harvesting tea leaves, and at the moment, it is a challenge to sell them. Some are taken to Kericho, others go as far as Olenguruone, and all that time you are transporting them over long distances for many kilometres,” said David Busienei, a resident of Kapkembu.

Residents say the road has been in poor condition for nearly five years, but heavy rains experienced in October 2025 significantly worsened the situation.

Other Farm Produce Also Affected

The impact extends beyond tea farming.

Transport challenges have also disrupted the sale of potatoes and milk, further straining household incomes.

“When you call a lorry for potatoes, they refuse to come, and those who do come charge Ksh 100 per sack, so we end up making huge losses. We also have milk, but there is no vehicle available to collect it,” said Liza Langat, a resident of Kapkembu.

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The once-thriving agricultural zone now faces mounting economic uncertainty as farmers struggle to access markets.

Residents Plead for Government Intervention

Locals are calling on the government to urgently rehabilitate the road before the onset of more rains, which they fear will worsen the already worse situation.

“This road is going to get even worse. We are really struggling, and we can see the rains are about to start. Please help us, our government at least repair even one kilometre,” said Nancy Sang, a resident of Kapkembu.

In 2025, the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) advertised a tender for routine maintenance and spot improvement of the Mwangati-Kapkembu road.

However, residents say no meaningful repairs have been undertaken.

As deep gullies continue to widen along the road, residents fear the entire ward risks being cut off from viable economic opportunities unless urgent action is taken.

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The aerial view of the Chemusian Tea Factory in Nakuru
PHOTO/Chemusian Tea Factory/Acc