More than 50 employers drawn from Kenya’s floriculture and tea sectors convened in Naivasha for a consultative meeting on the roll-out of two specialized training curricula, Floriculture and Mechanical Tea Harvesting (MTI) developed to address the growing skills demand in the agricultural sector.

The event, held at Mwanzo Lodge, Flower Business Park, Naivasha, was a collaborative effort between the Agricultural Employers’ Association (AEA) and the Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA). The session was facilitated by a team from the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) led by Ms. Jane Kamau and Mr. Peter Njiru, who guided members through the two curricula and discussed the action and rollout plan for their implementation.

The long-awaited signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for Horticulture, Floriculture and Botanical (HFB) sectors was successfully signed in Khwisero Kakamega County. The ceremony was presided over by Dr. Francis Atwoli, the Union General Secretary, alongside the Association CEO Mr. Wesley Siele, the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Chairman, Mr. Tom Ochieng and Mr. George Ongany.

The negotiations culminated in a landmark agreement securing single-digit wage increases for each year over the next two years. This outcome was hailed as a balanced and sustainable approach, ensuring workers’ welfare is enhanced while safeguarding the financial stability of employers in the sector.