Hundreds of tea farmers in Chelilis, Getarwet, Bargiro and Kaminjeiwet areas of Bureti Sub-County, Kericho County, are counting losses after a severe hailstorm destroyed crops across the region, raising fresh concerns over the impact of unpredictable weather on agricultural livelihoods.
The hailstorm, which lasted approximately three hours on Thursday, left extensive damage to tea plantations, vegetables and other crops, with farmers reporting significant losses after hailstones battered farms across the affected villages.
The incident comes as the rainy season begins, with farmers in several parts of the country experiencing changing weather conditions that have brought both relief and challenges to agricultural production.
In Chelilis, residents described the hailstorm as unusually intense, with the falling hailstones disrupting normal activities and forcing motorists using roads in the area to temporarily stop as visibility and driving conditions became difficult.
Farmers, meanwhile, watched helplessly as their crops were destroyed, with some facing the prospect of having to restart production after losing plants they had invested considerable time and resources in cultivating.
Abraham Kirui, a resident of Chelilis, is among those who suffered substantial losses after the hailstorm damaged his tea bushes, vegetables and other crops on his farm.
Kirui says the destruction has affected his source of livelihood and appealed to the government to intervene through the Disaster Management Department and the Ministry of Agriculture.
He wants government officials to conduct an urgent assessment to establish the extent of the damage and facilitate compensation for farmers whose crops were destroyed.
Other affected farmers, including Geoffrey Kirui and Ronald Kurgat, have also reported significant losses following the destruction of their crops.
The farmers say the damage threatens household incomes and food security, particularly for families that depend on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood.
Tea farming remains a major economic activity in the Bureti region, supporting thousands of households through the sale of green leaf to processing factories and providing employment across the agricultural value chain.
The destruction of tea bushes and other crops could therefore have implications beyond individual farms, especially if affected farmers are unable to restore production in the coming weeks.
The farmers are now calling on both levels of government to move swiftly, assess the affected farms and establish an appropriate support mechanism to help them recover.
They are also seeking interventions from agricultural officers to advise on the restoration of damaged crops and measures to minimise further losses should similar weather conditions occur.
As rains begin across the region, farmers remain concerned about the possibility of additional weather-related damage, calling for timely government intervention to safeguard their livelihoods.
