DP Gachagua Meets KTDA Officials

Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua held consultations with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Board led by the Chairman Mr. David Muni Ichoho and the Group MD and CEO Mr. Wilson Muthaura on improving earnings for small-scale farmers.

The Deputy President discussed and agreed on a strategy of ensuring the small-scale tea farmer reap more benefits from the cash crop especially by eliminating cartels.

“ We have created a caucus to guide on how best to unchain the small-holder tea farmer from the grip of cartels,” said.

He noted that the reforms in the Tea, Coffee, and Milk subsectors have commenced in earnest, as directed by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto.

“I have tasked the Board to act with speed to ensure the reforms in the subsector are not derailed. I have reiterated the commitment of President Ruto, of ensuring that middlemen and unscrupulous people in the value chain at the detriment of the farmer are eliminated.

He noted that the government will endeavor to address any legal, market, and other challenges in the face of reforms that the board has raised.

“We continue to offer every support required of the KTDA and the Board to ensure the Tea Sub-sector remains stable. To this end, I wish to state categorically that the government has no issues at all with the leadership of the KTDA and its Board,” he added.

He encouraged the Board to continue engaging us frequently to deliver services within its mandate to the tea farmers.
“I have registered my appreciation for the reforms taking place in the subsector, but ahead of us, for the benefit of the farmer, is great work to be done,” he added.