Githambo tea growers ready to send the directors packing

A six-man interim committee has been appointed to the Githambo tea factory after a special general meeting that the KTDA directors failed to attend.

The directors, led by their chairman, Mr Moses Macharia, on Wednesday failed to attend farmers' controlled meeting to shed light on tea bonus payment for the year 2025/2026, despite the promise of paying over Sh 50 per kg of green leaf delivered for processing.

The interim committee led by Joseph Kagondu, a former Chairman at the factory, awaits confirmation by the AG office and issuance of the CR 12 before they take over control of the multi-million-shillings business.

The farmers had invited the directors to shed light on the operations of the factory and how they arrived at paying a bonus of Sh 32 per kg, and to outline the factory’s expenditure in the year.

The bone of contention is the installation of an automated withering machine of  Sh 138 million, allegedly bought without their knowledge.

Maina Muthoni said,” The factory board is led by outside forces as the farmers are interested in procurement of orthodox processing machine”.

In a twist of events, the factory company secretary, Richard Kimani, declared the purported resolutions made during the special general meeting null and void.

The board, Kimani in a statement dated November 6, outlined that the purported resolutions for the removal of the directors from office are illegal.

The board, he said, calls on farmers and stakeholders to remain calm, reject unconstitutional disruption and embrace in a constructive dialogue for the betterment of the factory.

“ The factory board emphasizes that legitimate concerns from the growers regarding operations to be pursued through lawful and structured channels,” said Kimani in the statement to the farmers.