The
Mountain Journal team
Murang’a tea farmers have elected their new
directors who will implement the tea regulations 2020.
A week after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued an
executive order and directed the Attorney General to probe the Kenya Tea
Development Agency (KTDA) and its subsidiary companies.
In the special general meetings, only a former
director David Njoroge showed up at Njunu grounds as the farmers elected his
brother John Peter Kagira was elected to represent Kagira electoral area in
Gatanga sub county.
Photo/ Chairman of tea sector group Irungu Nyakera at Njunu grounds in Gatanga.
At
Njunu those elected are John Kagira,
Isaac Muiruri, Petterson Maina Bidco,
Phillip Kimani, and Gitau Kahunyo.
At
Kanyenya ini factory in Kangema sub county, those elected are Alex Macharia
Karuguru, Daniel Muchori, Patrick Macharia, Beatrice Wanjiru, Mary Gitaka and John Githuka
Kahari.
At Makomboki tea factory, Kamau Mbote, Moffat
Kamau, Ng’ang’a Kinyanjui, Esther Wanjiru and Patrick Njiiri were elected as slot for Kanderendu zone was reserved for a woman who will be nominated by the board.
Photo/Farmers at Makomboki grounds after they elected the new directors.
There was
acrimony as the members at Kanderendu zone questioned why they were not subjected
to an election as the slot was resolved for a woman.
At Githambo tea factory, Kagondu Karanu, Winnie Njoki,
Margaret Nduati, Wanyinyi Waiguru,
Njagua Wagura, Dickson Mbatia.
Chairman of the sector lobby group Iungu Nyakera
said the exercise was peaceful as the growers were determined to ensure the law
was followed to the latter.
“
Murang’a farmers have been focused on the reforms in the tea sector as they
want 50 percent of the pay as reflected in the tea regulations. The assignment
of the directors is to pay the farmers according to the law,” said Nyakera.
The Agriculture Food Authority (AFA) sent a team
of observers to the areas where the farmers met and conducted elections.
The crusade to reform the tea sector started
at Kiru tea factory in 2018 after the management led by lawyer Chege Kirundi
demanded a forensic audit into the performance of the KTDA at the factory, as a
condition to renew the managing contract.
Moffat
Kamau who brought the farmers together after a decade of legal battles with the
Makomboki tea factory said the new directors will on Monday be escorted to their
stations on Monday.
“
Our first assignment will be to withdraw the suit that KTDA sued the government
in all matters concerning tea development,” said Kamau at Makomboki grounds.
