Edupreneur Editorial Team17 April 2025
A land conflict between a British-owned tea plantation and local farmers in western Kenya has intensified, spotlighting deep-rooted tensions over historical land ownership. The dispute centers around Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK), a subsidiary of UK-based Camellia Plc, and the Kimasas Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Nandi County. Over 100 community members have taken over roughly 350 acres of land they claim was gifted to them by the company in 1986. EPK, however, acknowledges only a 202-acre donation and has challenged the authenticity of the supporting documents, calling them forged. In April, a Kenyan court dismissed EPK’s case, but the company has filed for a review, citing new evidence. The situation reflects broader frustrations tied to colonial-era land allocations, which many communities believe should be reversed. Though Kenya’s National Land Commission previously recommended returning such lands to locals, implementation has been slow. In a related move, another British tea firm, James Finlay Kenya, recently exited the Kenyan market, selling its operations to Sri Lanka’s Browns Investment PLC. As part of the deal, the local Kipsigis community received a 15% stake in the new company. These developments mark a critical moment in the conversation around land justice, foreign ownership, and the future of Kenya’s tea industry.