Ground is set for the KTDA Holding election with a focus on the incumbent Enos Njeru and Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe. The two front runners have been holding strategic meetings with their supporters ahead of Friday’s election in Nairobi.
Njeru from Zone Six was re-elected unopposed as the board member while Kagombe faced David Ichoho whom he beat 17 votes against 14 votes. Others posed to declare their interest in the national slot are John Mithamo Wasusana and Chege Kirundi from Zone three.
Election in zone three had been delayed after two directors Martin Ngatia and Eston Gakungu were not confirmed during the special general meeting after a shouting match. Peter Mwangi Kuria, a governance expert with an interest in the tea industry, says the contest between Njeru and Kagombe will tear each other apart, as they seek support from their backyards.
Kuria said the farmers are seeking for election of a candidate who will not be haunted out of office by contravening chapter six of the constitution. “KTDA being a multi-billion sector requires corrupt free persons who will meet the 800,000 growers expectations in East and West of Rift,” said Kuria.
“The two are influential personalities in their localities as Njeru has an upper hand based on his performance based on founding the Chai Gold being marketed with Kenya’s signature across the globe,” said Kamau. Ndima tea factory director John Mithamo Wasusan, Kuria revealed that although not popular outside Kirinyaga county, is among those touted to seek the position.
On the candidature of Kagombe, Kuria said, he will have to make inroads with the directors, outside the Central region as Njeru has an upper hand in the west of rift. Njeru, he said will be backed by the majority of the directors from East of Rift owing to the sector performance in the past three years.
” The farmers are appreciative of the impressive payment of their green leaf and the dedication of the directors to support their course,” said Kamau. The KTDA Chairman said he was experienced in guiding the sector to prosperity as in the last year the farmers’ issues were given the top priority.
“Am ready to take the sector to another milestone based on improving the quality of green leaf in the West of Rift to ensure the issue surrounding unsold tea will not reoccur,” said Njeru who is representing zone six. In the first term, he said through the support of the directors he steered the 54 factories, through signing management agreements with KTDA Holdings where the commission will be paid at 1.5 percent down from the previous 2.5 percent.
“As a leader am out to ensure the farmers’ interests are prioritized, timely monthly payment, as spelled out in the contract agreement,” said Njeru. Kagombe said he was interested in the seat to ensure the tea market was open to more players for farmers to achieve better payment.
“I will ensure the issue of unsold tea is dealt with to the end and farmers’ interests addressed,” said Kagombe who had also served as a director in the last term at Theta tea factory. Mithamo upon his re-election on Tuesday said he could restructure the KTDA to ensure the organisation concentrates on selling Kenyan tea.
” If elected I will ensure farmers get the best payment for their sweat,” said Mithamo. A tea farmer, Mauriuce Biwott said there was a need for the board to be run by an experienced person to help guide the sector to prosperity.
Biwott from Bomet County calls on KTDA to ensure the integrity in the sector prevails and not to erode the farmers’ confidence with the transformation achieved in the last three years. “Character of the candidates must be above board to ensure the operations of the organization and that of the tea factories are not compromised,” said Biwott.
In East of Rift, Teresia Muthoni said the articles of associations at KTDA should be amended to block parliamentarians from contesting in the tea elections. Kagombe, Muthoni said, should drop his bid in the chairmanship election and instead concentrate on his parliamentary role and guide the sector to profitability.
” Kagombe should play an oversight role in the tea sector as he has experience in the formulation of policies,” said Muthoni, a farmer at Kimunye tea factory.