Tea Board of Kenya reappoints Enos Njiru as national chairman for three years

Published August 28, 2024

KENYA – The Board of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has reappointed Enos Njiru Njeru as its national chairman, for a three-year term.

Enos Njeru, was first appointed as chairman on July 17, 2023. Eric Chepkwony was elected as the Vice-chairman of the Board.

Enos Njeru is a representative of the Embu Tea Zone while Eric Chepkwony is a representative of the Bomet Tea Zone. The elections were witnessed by Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Dr. Andrew Karanja and Tea Board of Kenya Chairman Jacob Kahiu.

“The focus of the board will be on the implementation of the Tea Act which will provide a strong legal framework for our operations and safeguard the interests of all stakeholders. This will enable us to work towards expanding our market reach while at the same time promoting a strong tea consumption culture within our country” Njeru said.

“By expanding our market reach we will reduce the volumes of unsold teas, thereby improving the financial health of KTDA and its affiliated factories.”

The board said it aims to focus on Championing Tea Consumption Culture, Improving Tea Quality, Product Diversification, Establishment of a Common User Facility, and Broadening the Tea Market.

Meanwhile, KTDA Management Services (KTDA MS) has announced it has imported 97,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer for the 2024/2025 season, an increase from the 88,000 metric tonnes procured last year.

The increase says KTDA, reflects the expansion of smallholder tea acreage and a growing preference among organizations and individuals outside the KTDA network to place their orders through the Agency.

The NPK 26:5:5 chemically compounded fertilizer was sourced directly from Russia. It will be bagged at the port and distributed to farmers through their respective factories, ensuring efficient and timely delivery for farm application.

Collins Bett, the Managing Director of KTDA MS noted that the final cost of a 50kg bag of fertilizer will be determined by several factors.

This includes the cost of natural gas (a key component in manufacturing NPK fertilizer), exchange rates, shipment costs, marine and overland insurance costs as well as clearing and transportation costs to the respective tea factories.