Kenya’s newly elected tea factory Directors urged to tackle inefficiencies 

KENYA – Kenya’s Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mithika Linturi, has called on newly elected directors of smallholder tea factories to address inefficiencies in the processing and marketing of tea.  

During the announcement of the recent election results, Linturi also emphasized the importance of good governance. 

“I urge the newly elected directors to immediately initiate the full implementation of reforms by reviewing the articles and memorandum of association of the tea factory companies to adopt best governance practices,” Linturi said.  

He expressed gratitude to the farmers for exercising their democratic right in the free, fair, and peaceful election of the directors. 

The elections for smallholder tea factory directors concluded on June 29, 2024.  

The Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on May 23, 2024, to ensure the elections for the 54 Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)-managed smallholder tea factories were conducted fairly. 

Out of 628,555 registered tea farmers, a total of 328,253 participated in the elections, representing a 52.2 percent voter turnout.  

Following the elections, the directors-elect will be presented at the farmers’ Special General Meeting for adoption as bona fide directors in accordance with the articles of association of the tea factory companies. 

The government, through TBK, will supervise the election of national directors to the KTDA Holdings Board, scheduled for July 26, 2024. 

In the wake of the election results, over 3,311 people have petitioned the electoral agency to revoke the election of John Chebochok as the director of the Toror tea factory.  

The petitioners, in an online submission addressed to IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan and Tea Board of Kenya Chairman Jacob Kahiu, cited Chebochok’s involvement in the BBC’s sex-for-work scandal. 

The petitioners expressed disappointment that despite serious allegations of sex exploitation, Chebochok was cleared to contest and subsequently won the election. 

They emphasized that the trauma endured by numerous women to expose unethical conduct should not be disregarded, and individuals implicated in such scandals should not be allowed to secure authoritative positions. 

The petition stated, “Even more unfortunately, he got elected. Acknowledging the depth of the exposed matter within his former business space, it becomes an immediate concern to revoke his election.”  

The petitioners urged the authorities to take immediate action to address their concerns.