Tea body’s fate sealed as new regulations sent to AG office

Friday, May 22, 2020 0:01

By GERALD ANDAE

Workers at Kiptagich Kenya Tea Development Agency factory in Kuresoi South.

PHOTO | AYUB MUIYURO 

Agriculture Secretary Peter Munya has sealed the fate of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) after he released final regulations cutting its export role and weakening its control of 69 factories.

The regulations, which have since been sent to Attorney-General’s office for gazettement, are aimed at boosting transparency in the tea sector and giving farmers good returns, according to the Cabinet secretary.

“These regulations will improve productivity and efficiency in tea value chain, create transparency and accountability … improve competitiveness of our tea exports in the international market and generate more earnings to the country and farmers from tea exports,” said Mr Munya.

KTDA company secretary service shall now be excluded from the services offered by a management agent for a smallholder tea factory limited company, implying the plants would be at liberty to hire personnel to handle legal issues, which is one of the things that the agency has been fighting to retain.