Long serving KTDA chairman Peter Kanyago has been ousted as tea reforms shifted another gear – bringing an end to his era at the helm of the farmer’s apex body.
Kanyago was kicked out during an annual general meeting (AGM) held on Friday at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel and attended by the newly elected factory directors.
He was replaced by David Ichoho who will be deputised by Wesly Koech while Lawyer Ngunjiri was elected company secretary.
The removal of Kanyago during the AGM was the culmination of tea reforms started by the Jubilee government and pushed through by Agriculture CS Peter Munya.
Munya has been on the forefront dismantling cartels that have been fleecing not just tea farmers but also coffee and other crops with the aim of making farmers reap maximum benefits.
Tea reforms have been a difficult journey because of how entrenched the cartels have been and they have been using courts to frustrate Munya and farmers.
KTDA has filed about 10 court cases all aimed at frustrating or forestalling the reforms. It has also frustrated newly elected factory directors from accessing crucial documents to enable them take over the offices.
Kanyago was first kicked out as director of Chinga factory before finally being removed as chairman where he served for close to three decades.
Renowned tea industry activist and who is also eyeing the Murang’a County governor’s seat Irungu Nyakera described the removal of Kanyago as a great win for farmers.
He said the journey to reform the tea sector is on its last legs and farmers will soon reap the benefits.
The directors have also promised to ensure all the court cases filed by KTDA will be withdrawn so as to complete the reforms smoothly.
