DP Gachagua
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked for the withdrawal of court cases frustrating Tea reforms, saying they are hindering the realization of higher benefits for farmers.
Speaking on Thursday while presiding over the release of the Tea Industry Performance Report, 2023 by the Tea Board of Kenya at Tea House, Nairobi, Gachagua said it is wrong for actors in the industry to file cases hampering efforts to make the sector more lucrative to the farmers who deserve better returns for their investments in the farms.
“Court cases have frustrated reforms in the subsector. I call upon stakeholders who genuinely mean well to withdraw the cases and allow these reforms to be implemented fully for the benefit of the Kenyan farmer,” said Gachagua.
He added that members affiliated with the Kenya Tea Development Agency cannot run for elections for factories’ Board of Directors if they have filed cases against the agency.
“People who are greedy for power have taken farmers to court and their lawyers are being paid from farmers’ earnings. It is not right. It is unethical and immoral. You cannot say you mean well for the farmer yet you take the farmer to court and use their earnings to sustain the case against them,” he said.
Gachagua noted that the government will provide adequate support through the national government administration during the upcoming directors’ elections. He also called on the farmers to choose directors who would fight for their interests.
“As factories prepare for elections, we urge the farmer to put integrity first. Good leadership will promote and protect the reforms we are undertaking for a sane and productive Tea Subsector,” he said.
Further, the Deputy President said the administrators have been asked to work with the Tea Board of Kenya to arrest those engaging in the hawking of tea leaves.
“We have instructed the National Government Administration Officers to give every support to the Tea Board of Kenya to make sure those engaged in tea hawking are apprehended and charged in court because we cannot allow criminal elements to ruin the sector,” he said.
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