By Elizabeth Angira
Intense Campaigns Have Kicked Off In Tea-Growing Areas As Factory Directors Elected Under The Recent Tea Reforms Fight To Retain Their Positions
This follows the announcement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which will oversee the polls slated for June 28.
The short notice has sparked fervent campaigns as directors lobby for support from farmers.
Director Ombasa Omweno highlighted the numerous reforms implemented in the tea industry, such as in the Ogembo Eberege tea factory.
These reforms include increasing tea payment per kilo from Ksh 5 to 24, raising bonuses from Ksh 5 to 25, and ensuring monthly payments to farmers.
Omweno also noted that since their tenure began, tea theft has significantly decreased, and machines have been introduced to weigh tea accurately.
Additionally, the factory has acquired an orthodox machine for tea processing, which is more expensive but results in higher profits for farmers.
New tea seedlings have also been planted and will be distributed to farmers to boost yields.
Omweno praised the government for initiating the election process in the factories and commended his colleagues for effectively implementing reforms over the past three years.
He urged farmers to be allowed to elect their choice of directors without interference.
“It would be good if farmers will be given chance to exercise their democratic right,” he said.
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has mandated tea factories to declare vacancies for director positions in preparation for the upcoming elections.
In a letter, the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) instructed company secretaries in each of the 54 factories to ensure this directive was implemented by June 7 as part of the election process.
The TBK has collaborated with the IEBC to conduct the polls.
However, current directors are facing strong opposition from former directors who claim former President Uhuru Kenyatta unfairly ousted them in 2021 following an executive order. This order allowed farmers to vote using the one-man-one-vote system outlined in the Tea Act 2020.
The ousted directors subsequently challenged their removal in court.
Returning officer Kennedy Oywa assured that he would oversee a free, fair, and transparent election process.
The Ogembo Eberege tea factories, which serve 21,091 farmers across 114 tea buying centers, 6 electoral areas, and 32 voting stations.
Candidates running for director positions to have attained at least a D plain in their KCSE exam, and to provide green leaf supply slips for the past 12 months, a KRA pin certificate, ID, and an EACC compliance form, among other requirements.
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Elizabeth Angira is a trailblazing climate journalist whose work bridges science, policy, and human impact. As Senior Climate Reporter at The Mount Kenya Times, she leads in-depth coverage on climate resilience, energy innovation, and sustainability across East Africa and beyond. Her storytelling has earned international acclaim, including a third-place win for “The Best Energy Story in Foreign Media” by the Global Energy Association in Moscow.
Elizabeth’s portfolio reflects her commitment to excellence and advocacy:
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