KTDA board members demand chairman's ouster, accuse state of interfering in elections

A section of board members of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings Limited is calling for the dissolution of the board barely two weeks after the election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

The call comes in the wake of disputed elections that saw Enos Njeru re-elected as Chairman and Eric Chepkwony as Vice Chairman for a three-year term.

The elections were held at a Mombasa hotel and overseen by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Andrew Karanja, alongside officials from the Tea Board of Kenya.

Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe, a Director of Zone One-Kiambu County, led the dissenting board members, accusing state functionaries of interfering in the election process.

Following the elections, Dr Karanja urged unity among the board members to ensure KTDA's continued success.

However, the dissenting members have insisted on the reconstitution of the board to ensure fairness and proper representation of farmers' interests.

Walkout

In a dramatic protest, the group, comprising Kagombe and several factory directors, walked out of an induction for KTDA Factory Directors at a Mombasa hotel, calling for the session to be turned into a shareholder meeting.

Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe flanked by Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holding Directors when he briefed the media on the sidelines of a 4-day induction for factory Directors at Pride Inn Paradise Hotel, Mombasa. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

They argued that such a meeting was necessary to discuss the management of farmers' funds and the leadership of KTDA's subsidiaries.

“KTDA Management Services holds over Sh24 billion of farmers' money. We need to ensure that these funds are managed correctly to benefit the farmers,” stated Kagombe.

He went on to allege that the board had been handed over to individuals who did not represent the interests of farmers. “It is beyond comprehension how this company has been taken from farmers and given to strangers,” he added.

Kagombe declared that 54 factories had signed a resolution demanding the immediate dissolution of the board. He and his supporters threatened to liquidate the company if the board was not disbanded, vowing not to allow 'outsiders' to control KTDA.

Echoing Kagombe's sentiments, Chege Kirundi, another board member, stressed the need for farmers to regain control of their companies without external interference.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Kamotho, Director of Lagat Tea Factory, expressed concern over the appointment of board members who had no direct connection to the tea industry. "It’s perplexing that individuals with no interest in tea are serving on the KTDA board," he remarked.

Kamotho questioned why these appointees were not placed on the boards of other crop agencies, such as sugarcane, instead of the highly profitable tea sector. "Our industry, which deals with substantial funds, is being infiltrated by outsiders while real farmers remain in the dark," he lamented.

The situation remains tense as the disgruntled members continue to press for changes, threatening legal action and further disruptions unless their demands are met.