Temperatures have escalated in the tea industry after the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) has released election timetable for the smallholder tea factories. The election of the directors to man the 54 factories is scheduled for June 28, with that of the KTDA holdings on July 26.
In the election notice, the TBK directs the factories to make the election announcements on June 3, as well as publishing of the voters register. ” Short listing and publishing of the eligible candidates and polling stations will be done on June 14,” reads part of the election timetable.
On June 21, there will be voter education, printing of the election materials and candidates allowed to campaign. In the polls, it is expected the current and the former directors will wrestle one another to seek to manage the 54 tera factories in the East of Rift and in the West of Rift.
Last week, KTDA Holding Enos Njeru said the directors were ready for the elections. The cost of the election process is estimated at Sh350 million, which will be paid by the factories.
