KTDA elections: High stakes battle for national chairman as four take on Enos Njeru
The fight for Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) chairmanship position has kicked off with four candidates lined up against incumbent Enos Njeru.
The poll to be presided over by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which is a culmination of grassroots election that has lasted two months will be held on August 23, 2024.
A total of five regional directors from the 19 tea producing counties will fight it out for the position which has been declared vacant by IEBC which for the first time in the history of the agency is managing the poll.
Mr Njeru will face off with – Mr Erick Chepkwony the zone nine chairman, Mr Chege Kirundi, Mr John Wa Susana and Mr Gabriel Kagombe, the Gatundu South Member of Parliament are running against Mr Njeru in the poll.
Mr Njeru confirmed that he is defending his seat and was confident of retaining it after he succeeded immediate former chairman David Ichoho in what was regarded as a boardroom coup.
The change of guard came shortly after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua led a three day consultative meeting for the tea sector in the country at the Kericho Gold club in July, 2023, where he promised a raft of change in the sector.
Read: KTDA director John Chebochok in sex scam claim speaks out for the first time
Even though Mr Ichohi was re-elected as a zonal director, he was defeated in the Regional directorship by Mr Kagombe who doubles up as a Member of Parliament.
“I am confident that under my leadership in the last one year, KTDA has been able to cover a lot of ground in marketing in collaboration with the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK), the government and other stakeholders” Mr Njeru said.
Mr Chepkwony who is a KTDA board member is serving his second term as a director and is also the immediate former chairman of Kapset Tea Factory in Bomet County.
“Our focus is to create wide market linkages for the tea produced by small scale tea growers across the country and seek to raise earnings and open up more employment opportunities” Mr Chepkwony told the in Bomet, the leading tea producing zone in the country.
Mr Chepkwony said “The tea sector has been a leading foreign exchange earner in the country and there are opportunities to be tapped into with a focus on specialty teas production and marketing. This will fetch more money to the pockets of the farmers”
Mr Kagombe said when contacted for a comment on Friday that he was held up and was not free to talk and that he would contact us when he is through. But he had not responded by press time.
The office bearers to be elected will steer the tea sector affairs for the next three years and will have to deal with the glut at the Mombasa Tea Auction that has persisted for the last one year.
Read: Calls mount for controversial KTDA director John Chebochok to step down
Principal Secretary for Agriculture Paul Kipronoh Ronoh recently admitted that 100 million kilograms of tea remained unsold at the Mombasa tea auction.
Dr Ronoh said the government was seeking for a repeal of the Tea Act 2021, to allow for direct sale of tea and that the reserve price mechanism shall be reviewed.
KTDA has 59 factories it manages on behalf of 600,000 small scale tea growers in 21 counties with volumes expected to rise.
A bulk of the tea produced in Kenya is sold at the Mombasa Tea Auction which is a regional auction hub for tea from Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Madagascar, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
For decades, Kenya has been dependent on the black CTC (Cut, Tear and Curl) tea to feed her traditional export market outlets – Pakistan, United Kingdom, Egypt, Sudan, Kazakhstan and Poland.
China, India, Korea, Australia, Switzerland, Iran, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, and Morocco among others are new markets that KTDA and TBK and marketing agencies have secured in a bid to raise export volumes.
A special focus is being given to the production of orthodox tea by KTDA, with huge market openings in Japan, Russia, China, Germany, Iran, France, and countries in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Read: Government nullifies Chebochok’s election as KTDA director
President William Ruto recently said the country is banking on processing and selling of specialty teas to expand the export market.
He said the ambitious plan will see a rise in the value added and branded tea by 41 percent in the next five years with the volumes having increased from five to the current nine per cent in the last two years.
Dr Ruto said earnings from tea shot up from Sh 140 billion in 2022 to Sh 180 billion in 2023 and is projected to rise to Sh 210 billion in 2024 due to the opening of export markets through government initiatives.
Dr Ruto said the government will assist KTDA factories in the country to set up units in its factories to process orthodox tea which is in high demand and fetches high prices in the foreign market.
“It cannot be that 60 years after independence, we are still exporting 90 percent of our tea unprocessed. Kenya’s tea is a high premium produce that is used to blend those from other countries, an issue we must deal with by branding our own produce” Dr Ruto said.
Dr Ruto made the remarks when he opened the Kenya Tea Packers (Ketepa) Chai Gold value addition unit at the Kenya Tea Packers (Ketepa) in Kericho which is a common user facility for tea growers in the West of Rift region in the country which covers – Kericho, Bomet, Narok, Nandi, Kisii, Nakuru, Nyamira.
The President stated that out of the Sh2 billion required to upgrade the common user facility in Kericho for the West of Rift region and set up another one in Nairobi for the East of Rift, the government will allocate Sh1 billion while KTDA is expected to raise a similar amount.
nenyonn@gmail.com
Shows
See AllAM Live
AM Live is NTV's morning current affairs show that sets the agenda for the day with insightful panels every weekday.
Business Redefined
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
Comedies
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Entertainment
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Full Episodes
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Gumzo La Sato
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
One Health Lens Podcast
Discussing health matters and human stories from Kenya and across Africa. We talk big picture from people to policy, ecosystems, and everything in between. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onehealthlens
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost peeks through the story of Louis Otieno, the times, and everything in between.
Speaking of GEN Z
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport On
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
Tech-over
The extent of technological growth is beyond mere acknowledgment; it has seamlessly integrated into our daily existence. A few years ago, the notion of paying electricity bills through mobile money or recharging with 'tokens' in Kenya seemed inconceivable. Online product sales were considered distant, and artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping various facets of our lives. Amidst these technological leaps, those with a solid understanding of tech can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build a sustainable livelihood. Tech over Show aims to be the platform facilitating discussions among thought leaders, innovators, tech companies, and the government, addressing challenges and opportunities in Kenya's thriving tech industry.
Thamani
Thamani is a business show which is dedicated to emerging issues regarding micro, small and medium size businesses.
The Politalk podcast
This is The Politalk podcast. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
The Trend
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The trend podcast
The trend podcast highlights and captures the best of banter from #TTTT segment that airs every Friday on NTV. It's the TTTT EXTRA
The Wicked Edition
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
Trending
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Twende
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
Unscripted
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP Access
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
WADR
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
When death do us part
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.