The challenges in tea reforms initiated by the Kenya government in 2021 lie squarely on corruption fighting back.
In a few short months, tea farmers and factories have seen improved earnings thanks to the reforms but the rot is far from cleared owing to the court cases that the directors of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) filed.
This was even acknowledged by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.
Munya said the rot at KTDA was deeply rooted and its cleaning needs time.
“Most of them have since gone to court and filed several cases. Until then is when we can begin the implementation of the reforms. We hope the cases will be determined in a month’s time to give us time to begin the implementation of the reforms, “said Munya.
The directors led by the ousted KTDA cartel Kennedy Omanga who unsuccessfully tried to run for Kisii County Senator and failed are fighting back to reap where they did not sow.
Mr Omanga and former Kenya Tea Packers (KETEPA) boss Albert Otochi want to take Kenya back and must be resisted forcefully and swiftly.
The courts must hear their prayers quickly and the government and aggrieved persons must lodge cases against them in court to put them behind bars once and for all.
READ: Panic as President Ruto’s government asks tea cartels to carry their own cross
President Ruto is a hustler and bottom-up approach person. Farmers must not uproot their crops again due to frustrations coming from KTDA or any other such agencies.
This is why dealing decisively with Omanga, Atochi and company should be top of the government’s agenda.
Their illegal invasion of KTDA head office and various tea factories across the country on 26th September 2022, should be punished swiftly. The marauding hyenas must for once, be made to know and respect the rule of law.
“Whereas, there are various proceedings pending before the High Court and Court of Appeal challenging the directorship of KTDA and the Tea Factories however, the presence of Court cases does not justify the invasion of company premises. The pending Court matters rest with the orders of the Court of Appeal issued on 22nd July 2022 ordering that the matters at the High Court be stayed pending the Judgment at the Court of Appeal”, KTDA press statement affirmed in part.
In 2019, Omanga with Stephen Githiga, Eston Gakunju and Lorioka Tiampati, among others were found guilty of contempt for interfering with the leadership and management of the 8,000-member Kiru Tea Factory in Murang’a County.
It further stated, ‘The basic principle of the rule of law is that all parties are bound by law and none is above the law. Therefore, the former directors and former group company secretary cannot purport to take over a company as to do so would replace the rule of law with anarchy and defeat the whole object of filing the matters in a Court of law for adjudication. The actions of the former directors and former company secretary on 26th September 2022 was an assault on the rule of law, an attempt to disparage KTDA as an institution and an attack on the small scale tea farmers in the country”.
The former directors belong to Kamiti Maximum Security Prison to serve as a lesson to cartels in other industries.
Over to you Mr President.
