The Githunguri MP made the remarks in a sharp post moments after the President ended his State of the Nation address.
She said the tea earnings figure of Ksh 215 billion sounded like a relic from old archives rather than a reflection of current hardship faced by farmers.
She questioned how the government could celebrate huge export earnings while farmers in Kisii and Nyamira received mini bonuses as low as Ksh 6 per kilo.
Her post captured the anger in regions where growers feel abandoned despite Kenya remaining the world’s top black tea exporter. Many of them say they see big numbers on television but nothing changes in their pockets.
The irony in her criticism is that the figure President Ruto cited is accurate and very recent. Kenya earned a record Ksh 215 billion in 2024, up from Ksh 138 billion two years earlier.
The President even repeated the same data when he presented KTDA with a Ksh 2.65 billion cheque in September 2025.
Still, the frustration of farmers remains powerful because the high earnings have not reflected in their bonuses.
Growers in the Gusii region received some of the worst payments in the country for the 2024 to 2025 season. Many factories issued bonuses ranging from Ksh 6 to Ksh 18 per kilo.
In contrast, factories in the East Rift paid between Ksh 60 and Ksh 80 per kilo. This huge gap has created fierce debates across Parliament and local assemblies.
KTDA has blamed poor leaf quality, heavy rainfall and a stronger shilling for low returns in the region. It has also pointed to factory inefficiencies that raise production costs.
Yet many leaders doubt these explanations. Senator Essy Okenyuri and several lawmakers from the Rift Valley have demanded audits to trace billions meant for factory upgrades and hydropower projects.
They claim the money has not improved the areas that needed support the most.
Wamuchomba’s comments cut through the political noise because they echo what many farmers feel.
They say national figures look impressive but the real problem lies in the huge gap between official speeches and life on the ground.
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