EATTA appoints Robert Kiplangat Koech as new Chairman, names John Kamau Humbu Vice-Chairman
EATTA announces new board leadership with Robert Koech as Chairman and John Humbu as Vice-Chairman, strengthening governance across Africa’s tea value chain.
EAST AFRICA – The East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) has appointed Robert Kiplangat Koech as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, succeeding Abdi Kadir Hussein, who has held the position since April 2025.
Koech brings more than a decade of experience in the tea industry. He currently serves as the Managing Director of Siomo Tea Factory, a producer of high-quality teas specialising in both CTC and Orthodox varieties.
In a statement, EATTA expressed confidence in the new chairman’s leadership. “We are confident that his leadership and expertise will play a key role in guiding the organization forward as it continues to pursue its vision and strengthen the tea trade in the region,” the association said.
Alongside Koech’s appointment, EATTA also named John Kamau Humbu as the new Vice-Chairman of the Board, replacing Francis Mwenda Muthamia.
Humbu brings over 32 years of experience across the tea value chain, including production, manufacturing, blending and spicing, brokerage, sourcing, buying, and trading.
He currently works as a Tea Buying Manager at Stansand Africa Ltd and holds a degree in Business Information Technology as well as a diploma in Modern Management.
EATTA is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors drawn from five countries, representing the full tea value chain. The Board operates through five committees and works alongside co-opted members, while the association’s broader activities are coordinated through various sub-associations.
Established in 1956, EATTA has members from 10 countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Madagascar, and Mozambique. Its membership includes stakeholders involved in tea growing, buying, broking, and warehousing.
The association’s principal mandate is to manage the weekly Mombasa Tea Auction Centre, currently the largest tea auction platform in the world and the only one handling teas from multiple countries.
EATTA currently has 224 members, comprising producers, buyers, brokers, warehouses, packers, and associate members.
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