The government has ordered all tea directors from the Michiimikuru Tea Factory in Tigania Central Sub-county to step aside to pave the way for investigations into possible mismanagement of funds and abuse of office.
Speaking during a fact-finding tour of the factory, Agriculture PS Dr. Paul Rono announced that in a week, a team from Nairobi would be on the ground to carry out thorough investigations into the issues that have been bedevilling the oldest tea factory in Meru County.
Last month, farmers from the factory held demonstrations over the low bonus of Sh35 despite the quality and volume of tea they process, which also led to the burning of several hectares of tea estate.
During a general meeting on September 27, the farmers voted to oust the six directors, opting instead for a new slate of interim directors aimed at reforming the factory’s leadership.
“We have heard the cry of farmers from this factory, and I want to be categorical that the Kenya Kwanza’s administration believes that when you touch the farmer, you have touched the government.
In this regard, I am ordering all six directors to step aside so we can carry out thorough investigations into the alleged issues,” said the PS.
During the tour, it also emerged that the factory has been registered under three names, and this will also be a ground that the investigators will look into.
“We need to sanitise our factories because these are the source of revenue for our farmers. We will not allow anyone to mismanage farmers funds, and this issue will set an example to other directors in other factories and with similar behaviour,” said Dr. Rono.
He also warned directors against imposing projects on farmers, adding that the farmers should have a chance to decide which projects they require during their annual general meeting.
At the same time, the PS called on the Kenya Tea Development Authority to reimburse all the monies they had deducted from farmers for fertiliser, arguing that the government had already set aside funds that would cater for the distribution of subsidised fertiliser to all farmers.
By Dickson Mwiti
