NYERI, Kenya, Sept 19 – The Ministry of Agriculture’s Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has warned the Kenya Tea Development Agency against conducting elections for directors of factories affiliated with the Agency using the old regulations.
Speaking during a consultive meeting with farmers at Othaya Stadium, Munya told the Agency to use the new regulations that have already been gazetted.
“We as a government want to say that if such elections are held we shall annul them since the new rules are in force, in fact, I want to tell farmers that the old regulations are now null and void so they should not participate,” said Munya.
KTDA is expected to hold fresh elections in November.
Under the old rule, voting has been done through shareholding. But farmers have complained about the system, saying it is used to enrich those who are elected.
The new regulations have scrapped off the rule and now allows for one man, one vote system.
Munya who was accompanied by former MPs Mary Wambui and Mpuri Amburi urged legislators from tea growing areas to pass the bill that is in the house that will give the regulations legal backing.
“We as a ministry have already done our part. We urge MPs to help us by passing the bill that is in the house.”
Munya dismissed allegations that the regulations were not subjected to public participation saying that due diligence was followed. He said that he is not opposed to KTDA but wants farmers to be considered.
“We as a ministry have no grudge against KTDA we just want our farmers to benefit and get economic freedom this must be achieved,” said Munya.
