PS Rules Out Disbandment Of KTDA

BY ERIC ABUGA

Principal Secretary State Department of Agriculture, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh Paul,CBS has ruled out disbandment of Kenya Tea Development Agency.

Instead the Government is emphasizing governance reform, financial accountability, and transparent leadership to restore farmer trust.

Dr Ronoh says the Government has rolled out a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at improving tea farmer earnings, strengthening governance, and enhancing global competitiveness in Kenya’s tea sector.

"Through deliberate interventions including subsidized fertilizer at Sh 2,500 per bag, recovery of Sh 2.7B held in collapsed banks, removal of VAT on tea and packaging materials, and modernization of factories with Sh 3.7B from President William Samoei Ruto we're driving a farmer centered transformation agenda."

The PS reaffirmed that while the 2024/25 bonuses were affected by global price declines and currency fluctuations, structural challenges within KTDA Holdings Limited must be urgently addressed. 

Among new measures are the rollout of national green leaf quality standards, operationalization of the Tea Quality Analysis Laboratory in Mombasa, enforcement of strict expenditure limits for KTDA directors, and directives for the release of Sh 2.7B to farmers by mid-October.

The PS further announced a tea stakeholders’ conference in two weeks to chart long-term solutions for the industry that sustains over 10 million Kenyans.