Tea growers have criticized emerging divisions in the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holding leadership.
This is happening as the farmers rallied stakeholders to help them venture into new markets for the produce.
The farmers’ representatives from the West of Rift and East of the Rift led by Timothy Tanui and Moses Njuguna said it would be prudent for the directors in the tea sector to work in harmony and deliver the promises made to the 880,000 farmers.
They spoke as the directors from 71 tea factories prepare for an induction training in Mombasa next week with the 880,000 growers calling for unity.
Tanui and Njuguna regretted the incident that happened in Mombasa last week where five directors disputed the election of Enos Njeru as the KTDA holding chairman, saying they were driven by malicious intent, which must be condemned.
They asked KTDA Holding directors to work with Njeru for the interest of the tea sector which was on the recovery path.
“ The farmers are interested in an increment in the monthly payment of green leaf from Sh25 to Sh30 and clearance of the unsold stock from the warehouses and sideshows,” said Tanui from Toror tea factory
Njuguna from Makomboki tea factory regretted the incident saying the directors should have retreated to the board room to iron out their differences.
He said that as tea farmers’ representative were elected based on his potential to take over the leadership of KTDA holding in the future.
“We have a star with the potential to take leadership in the tea sector in the coming years,” said Njuguna.
Peter Kamore, a Tea Value Chain Expert, says the industry leadership should avoid divisive politics, being propelled to disrupt the tea market in Kenya.
The farmers’ voice, Kamore said, supported reforms because they retained the majority of the former directors during the June 29 election.
Kamore asserted that the directors were re-elected on a platform to accomplish the tea reforms, that would give them full control of the sector after years of mismanagement.
“The infighting at the board should be disregarded for the interest of the growers affiliated with the 71 smallholder tea factories. In the election Njeru was not opposed,” said Kamore.
Njeru downplayed the dispute saying the board will focus on the well-being of the tea farmers, with an emphasis on a plucking quality green leaf.
In the year 2023/2024 farmers produced 1.4 billion kilogrammes up from 1.1 billion kilogrammes in 2022/2023.
From the produce, the farmers earned 2023/2024 Sh88.5 billion up from the previous Sh70.4 billion.
