Tea factory directors have lauded the resolutions of a meeting convened to address concerns on the procedures for the factory elections slated for June 28.
The meeting that brought together Ministries of Agriculture, and Interior, Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) and KTDA resolved that the election manual be aligned to Memorandum and articles of association of the companies in regard to guidelines and qualifications as outlined by out of court settlement agreement.
In the meeting chaired by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on Wednesday, the directors led by KTDA Chairman Enos Njeru described it as fair to ensure the election will be transparent and fair. Today, many of the directors were back on the drawing board redefining the election manual to comply with the resolutions of the joint committee.
Njeru said in an update to the growers in his facebook page it was agreed that notice to declare the directors positions vacant be reviewed, to indicate that they shall fall vacant in the general meeting. “One of the key resolutions is that the ballot papers will contain the photos of the cleared candidates, a clause the regulator had ignored despite being proposed,” said Njeru.
Other directors were James Githinji (Ngere), Nahason Ngari (Mununga). Joe Mahugu( Nduti) said the meeting had restored stability in the sector. Githinji hailed the decision to review the election manual to enable the outcome of a credible election.
“Right now, the farmers are ready to go to the polls and elect their representatives,” said Githini, also a Board Member representing zone two in the KTDA holdings. The meeting resolved that a candidate must have a twelve-month green leaf production counted from June 2023 to May 2024, and that the payslips be stamped by the managers of the respective factories.
“The election manual indicated one must have a D at the O level but the articles of association of the factories state O level education,” said Ngari. Mahugu the vice chairman at Nduti tea factory said there was a need to hold a transparent election as the wish of the farmers.
” Initially the regulator was not listening to the concerns raised by the farmers in matters pertaining to the preparation for the election,” said Mahugu.
