Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua met members of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Board to discuss reforms in the tea subsector in Kenya. During the meeting at his Harambee House Annex office, Gachagua said the government is committed to improving the earnings of small-scale tea farmers across the country.
“Today, at the Harambee House Annex, I consulted 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,” said Gachagua on Twitter.
The DP said the meeting focused on the best strategies KTDA can adopt to eliminate cartels in the tea sector to ensure farmers get better pricing on their cash crops. “We discussed and agreed on a strategy of ensuring the small-scale tea farmer reaps more benefits from the cash crop, especially by eliminating cartels,” he revealed.
He added, “We have created a caucus to guide on how best to unchain the small-holder tea farmer from the grip of cartels.”
He said he had started spearheading needed reforms in the tea, coffee, and milk sectors as ordered by President William Ruto in a gazette notice reorganizing functions of his officers.
Gachagua added, during the Monday meeting, that he had already tasked the KTDA Board members to act expeditiously to ensure the reforms in the tea subsector are not derailed.
“I have reiterated the commitment of H.E. President Ruto, of ensuring that unscrupulous people in the value chain at the detriment of the farmer are eliminated,” he stated.
He assured the agency the Kenya Kwanza government will address any hurdles they face in terms of legislation, market among others in reforming tea as raised by the board members.
