Keep off the fragile tea sector- politicians told

Zone Five KTDA board member Mithamo Wacusana addressing the media at Kangaita tea factory after an AGM this morning

A section of tea farmers from Kangaita Tea  Factory have told certain local politicians to stop interfering with their fragile  sector.

Led by Miriam Wambui the  farmers  claimed the immediate former Sector Directors were instigating chaos in the sector in an attempt to discredit the current leadership.

“We have witnessed this week some   farmers being used by certain political leaders to cause  chaos during the ongoing series of Factory Annual General Meetings  within Zone Five but we are telling them to leave our  current directors fulfill their mandate to carry out reforms which the government sectioned in 2020 within the  sector, “Wambui said.

On Wednesday this week some chaotic moments were witnessed at Ndimaini tea factory whose Chairman is Mithamo Wacusana .

Police had to restore order  for the  AGM  to proceed while  the same scenario repeated itself at Kangaita tea factory where a section of the  famers staged a walk out from the  venue.

The meeting however proceeded on with the factory chairman  Hezekiah  Githinji urging the growers to resist any attempts by outsiders to  destabilize the sector .

“Am urging all  and the sundry to give us time  to implement the reforms we have been mandated  to carry out  within the tea sector and when our term comes to an end those  wishing to  seek for leadership positions will be free to do so,” the official said.

The   former  Directors have been accused over  the time of using all means  possible to instigate and destabilize the sector in their quest to seize back the leadership.

Kangaita tea factory chairman  Ezekiel Githinji briefing the media after a factory AGM this  morning

The  same group had also gone to court seeking for the removal of the new team from office maintaining  it was them (group,) who were bona fide leaders  of the sector.

Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango has also been accused of having a hand in the matter but a section of the farmers have come to his defence describing him as their only hope.

This  coming Monday Kimunye  tea factory is expected to hold its AGM and it is expected to be a calm one .