Kirinyaga zone tea factories directors held their elections on Wednesday electing John Mithamo as the regional director at the Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited.
The new chairman was voted unopposed by the 30 directors from different tea factories in the county at Kimunye, Thumaita, Kangaita, Ndima and Mununga.
The elections process was led by Wachira Kibanya and Collins Omondi.
Mithamo said their focus was to fish out culprits who have almost brought the KTDA to its knees frustrating the smallholder tea farmers.
"We are changing this narrative, and we are doing it for the benefit of farmers," said Mithamo.
He added that the reforms would also eliminate middlemen and make sure that the tea buyers used to trade freely on farmers commodities also brought at the auction competitively.
Thumaita director Richard Magu.“We have been receiving low prices all along despite Kirinyaga producing the best teas but we note that since the new directors were elected, prices had shot up at the auction” Mithamo added.
The tea directors have condemned top KTDA officials for seeking to change the articles and memorandum of association to allow non-elected officials on the organisation's board.
The directors said the intended action is not only illegal but also violates the wishes of tea farmers who are the sole shareholders at the agency.
“We vowed to lead from the front in protecting the farmers’ wealth by dismantling all hurdles that some compromised KTDA officials have put in their way," he said.
Nahashon Ngare, Ndima factory director added his voice stating that the reason for electing Mithamo was his zeal to fight for reforms.
“Some former officials who were thrown out during last month’s elections are now formulating their comeback into the entity and little wonder these kind of proposals have been brought forth. We will not allow them to come back.They did enough damage for over two decades and contributed to the downfall of the sector," said Ngare.
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