Ousted KTDA chairman obtains court orders barring the board of management from ejecting him

KENYA – In a new twist of events at the Kenya Tea Development Agency, David Ichoho, the chairman whom the agency secretariate announced to have resigned, has refuted the claims, sparking wrangles in the Board of Management.

A few days ago, the board of the tea agency announced the appointment of the representative of farmers from KTDA Zone Six–which comprises factories in Embu County, with Enos Njiru Njeru as its national chairman, replacing Ichoho.

However, Ichoho, whose tenure was set to end in June 2024, has pointed out to have been intimidated into the false resignation. He has already gone to the High Court and successfully obtained stay orders barring the KTDA Holdings board of management from ejecting him.

He filed the matter under a certificate of urgency, claiming that he was being forced by external forces to resign.

In the application, the chairman argued that he was not given any written notice or reasons for the intention of his removal nor granted a fair hearing.

He said on July 11, 2023, the day he wrote the resignation letter, a special board meeting was held to review the resolutions of the Kericho Tea Conference but instead, it took a turn to deliberate on his removal from office forcing him to write the said letter.

During the tea conference, the Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, hit out at some individuals, saying he will be inviting the National Intelligence Service to move in and conduct an audit.

“Farmers are very good people and have sent us details. Somebody has traveled 36 times out of the country on farmers’ money. You must agree to work with us, or you lose everything. Otherwise, as a government, we have a way of removing you from office so that we work together,” he said.

“…. I have done a few cross-checking and we are going to give our National Intelligence Service to verify so that we are not accused of being unfair. Once that is processed and verified, we shall call you the directors and tell you the truth so that we can agree on how to move forward.”

Right after the conference, Ichoho now claims the directors, without his knowledge, were called for a luncheon by political figures he did not mention during which they were ordered to remove him from office.

Tea farmers, especially from Gatundu South, have waded into the ongoing leadership wrangles at KTDA, arguing that the gains achieved so far under Ichoho’s leadership might go down the drain.

“We are worried that some external forces and powerful individuals in the government want to control the tea sector to the detriment of tea farmers in the country,” Peter Thuku, the farmer’s spokesperson, said.

“The election of the national chairman starts at the tea factories and replacing the chairman calls for inclusion of all stakeholders. We wonder who these powerful individuals are pulling strings at KTDA.”

The farmers from Gitwe, Karinga, and Mutunduini led by Thuku have threatened to boycott picking tea in their farms until the leadership row at KTDA is amicably settled.

They faulted KTDA Holdings’ board of management for supporting illegality against farmers and the ousted chairman, noting that the guidelines on the election of a new office and officials is well stipulated in the agency’s policies.

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