The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings board has elected James Githinji Mwangi as its new chairman, replacing Enos Njeru following a fresh board election.
In a leadership change announced on Tuesday, November 3, KTDA said Samson Mosonik Menjo would retain his position as vice chairman.
The agency did not disclose the circumstances surrounding Njeru’s exit or provide details of the board election that produced Mwangi.
In a statement, KTDA said the leadership change would not disrupt its operations, assuring tea farmers and other stakeholders of continuity as the agency continues to oversee the interests of smallholder tea growers.
“KTDA reassures all stakeholders that business operations will proceed seamlessly, with an unwavering focus on driving efficiency and promoting the best interests of tea farmers,” the agency said.
Mwangi takes over at a critical institution in the country’s tea industry, which plays a central role in supporting the over 700, 000 smallholder farmers through tea processing, factory management and the marketing of their produce.
The agency works with tea factories across the country, making its leadership influential in decisions affecting farmers’ earnings, operational efficiency and the competitiveness of Kenyan tea in international markets.
The latest change comes less than eight months after Njeru returned to the chairmanship in March 2026.
Njeru was elected chairman on March 4, 2026, replacing Chege Kirundi, who had taken over the position in January 2025.
Kirundi had replaced Njeru following an earlier board election that triggered a dispute over the leadership.
Njeru had initially been appointed chairman in July 2023 following the resignation of David Ichoho.
He was subsequently re-elected in August 2024 for another three-year term before Kirundi’s election altered the leadership in January 2025.
The changes have highlighted the contestation surrounding leadership of the agency, which represents the interests of smallholder tea farmers and oversees a significant part of the country’s tea production and marketing system.
In March, when Njeru returned to the position, KTDA said the board remained committed to strengthening corporate governance, protecting farmers’ value and positioning Kenyan tea competitively in regional and international markets.
The agency has also been pursuing reforms aimed at improving governance, compliance and accountability across its operations.
For farmers, changes at the top of KTDA are closely watched because board leadership influences the direction of the agency and its engagement with tea factories and growers on matters affecting the sector.
Mwangi’s immediate task will be to steer the board while maintaining confidence among farmers and other stakeholders during the transition.
KTDA did not announce any changes to its wider board structure or outline new policy priorities under Mwangi’s chairmanship.
The agency reiterated that its focus remained on efficiency and safeguarding farmers’ interests, signalling continuity in its stated priorities despite the change at the top.
The new chairman takes office as the tea sector continues to face pressure to improve returns to growers, strengthen governance and maintain Kenya’s position in the global tea market.
Leave a Reply