The election fever has spread across the tea growing catchments, following the release of the draft tea election manual by the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK).
Since May 2, the factory boards have been going through the manual to conform with the guidelines, to be ratified by the regulator to jump start the highly anticipated election process.
The Standard has learned that a high-profile meeting slated for May 10, to be chaired by the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua which is expected to provide a road map for the election.
The KTDA Holding leadership led by Mr Enos Njeru in the last meeting convinced the stakeholders among the TBK to extend the election dates from June, until after bonus payment is declared so as not to interfere with the tea sector calendar of events.
Njeru said the electoral body would require at least two months to settle down, before verification of the shareholders registered in the 71 tea factories.
“The electoral process would require Sh300 million which will be facilitated by the factories. For a fair process, growers and candidates’ details must be verified as the procedure demands,” said Njeru. In the draft election manual in our possession, the election will be conducted as per the factory’s memorandum and articles of association, as it calls for the shareholders to vie for the directorship positions.
In a circular signed by TBK CEO Mr Willy Mutai dated May 2, the qualification for the elections is as per the company memorandum and articles of association. An electoral body will be nominated by the regulator to preside over the election, where the tea factories will pay for the cost.
In case of disagreement, the electoral body may be recalled to conduct a repeat election on the recommendation of the election dispute resolution committee. “The dispute resolution committee will be appointed by the company secretary 60 days prior to the general meeting,” read part of the election manual.
Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe, an advocate of tea reforms said the election must be held to support the farmers. “The regulator should concentrate on its core business of exploring the market for our tea, instead of planning for elections with sinister motive” said Kagombe.
Majority of the factories from the East of Rift have supported election dates fixed after September 3 to conform with the tea calendar.
KTDA directors’, John Mithamo Wasusan, James Githinji, Nahason Ngari, Alex Macharia and Dr Muthoni Waithanji from Kirinyaga Nyeri and Murang’a counties accused TBK of favoring the former directors to get back into the leadership positions.
Macharia, the chairman at Kanyenya ini tea factory in Murang’a said the tea industry had been calm until TBK stirred it with the push for elections.
“We are for the election through the laid down procedures, but TBK has failed in its mandate of exploring the market for our teas,” said Macharia chairman at Kanyenya ini tea factory. Mithamo, chairman at Ndima tea factory in Kirinyaga county said the majority of the stakeholders want election dates to be declared after the announcement of the annual tea bonus.
“There are procedures that should be followed in holding meetings that let there be no influence as the farmers know their rights,” said Mithamo. Ngari said majority of the stakeholders in the sector demand election dates announced after payment to annual bonus payment for the more than 800,000 growers is announced.
Ngari said if elections are held by June 30th, they shall not adhere to the requisite provisions of the act, and the process can be challenged in court.
“According to the manual, the electoral body is required to be in office for 60 days before conducting an election, and there is no budgetary provision for the same,” said Ngaria director at Mununga tea factory. Githinji said the growers are ready for the election as they are focused on the leaders who have the capacity and ability to deliver.
” In the last three years the tea sector has undergone a major transformation with farmers getting value from the sale of their produce,” said Githinji, the vice chairman at Ngere tea factory in Gatanga, Murang’a.52