TEA NEWS #tea news

The High Court on Wednesday suspended an executive order issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 12 directing the Tea Board of Kenya to conduct elections in all Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) tea factories within 60 days.

The High Court has blocked investigations ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta over alleged abuse of office and economic crimes by Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and its officials, pending determination of a case.

The farmers from Gitugi tea factory in Othaya say that although they are not opposed to reforms in the sector, the recently held elections and raid at Kenya Tea Development Agency may result to them not being paid their dues.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS), Peter Munya, noted that initially the tea auction was being operated three days in a week but since the trading has gone electronic and the catalogues can now be generated online, it was time to move on and increase the time.

• They took over the offices early Monday morning under tight security. • They pledged to provide quality leadership and protect farmers from any forms of oppression. • They were elected by the farmers in an incident-free poll despite a court order stopping the polls.

Their predecessors fail to turn up but they were not bothered, said they were acting in farmers' interests. In Summary • Former directors had been accused of colluding with Kenya Tea Development Agency to frustrate implementation of tea sector reforms. • The new directors assumed office in line with the Executive Order issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta early last month.

While presenting their nomination papers, the contestants accused the sitting directors of planning to mobilize tea farmers to disrupt the elections which are scheduled for coming Saturday 10th April. John Kathangu a tea farmer from Runyenjes said that the directors manning the factories are opposed to the new tea regulations brought by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.

SELECTIVE DEMAND WITH BUYERS FOLLOWING QUALITY

Tea directors in Meru and Tharaka Nithi’s factories are opposed to the proposal seeking to sell their crop at the Mombasa auction. The factories are said to have entered into agreements with overseas buyers that buy their produce at a higher price as compared to what the tea auction is to offer.

Directors of seven tea factories in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties have warned of anarchy in the sector and loss of assets if the forced takeover of factories continues. They claimed that the elections of factory directors have been infiltrated by people pursuing personal interests. The directors warned that if transition from the current leadership to those who are being elected is not properly handled, it could lead to loss of assets and collapse of some factories.

• He said the county relies heavily on agriculture, hence the need to cushion farmers against financial burdens. • Barchok pointed out that most farmers in tea-growing areas of the county were still using makeshift structures in handling green leaf.

Tea pluckers say the household-goods giant failed to protect them from brutal and foreseeable attacks.