Tea farmers to elect factory directors

More than 150,000 shareholders of the 54 tea factory companies managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) across the country go to the polls on Tuesday to elect directors for their factories.

According to a schedule released by the factories’ group company secretary, Mr John Kennedy Omanga, the shareholders, who are small-scale tea farmers, will elect one-third of factory company directors who retire on rotation every year and are subject to the nomination process according to their respective company Articles.

“This represents two directors from each of the 54 factory companies. One other serving director is retiring having attained the majority age of 70 years as specified in the Companies Act, bringing the total number of seats being vied for to 109,” he said.

In a show of confidence by shareholders, about 30 of the candidates offering themselves for election are unopposed. The elections come at a time when tea farmers have enjoyed record high earnings, with tea bonus payments rising by about 30 per cent over the previous year.

There are more than 320 candidates vying for directorship, having met all the requirements set by their respective factory companies for participation in the elections. Elections will be conducted through the weighted voting system of shares introduced in 2008.