Police summon Pro KTDA farmers over incitement

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya. [Picture, Standard]

The police in Murang'a County are investigating two former Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) directors perceived to be opposed to reforms in the agriculture sector.

On Wednesday, they recorded statements at the Kigumo DCI offices over claims that they were inciting farmers to defy the president’s Executive Order that directed elections to be held in all the 54 factories countrywide in 60 days.

Law and order

County Criminal Investigation Officer Daniel Kandie said the directors and a group of farmers were summoned following their “crude action” that could have led to trouble in the tea-growing area in Murang’a.

“They were summoned and warned against their continued activities geared to defying the presidential Executive Order in the tea sector. If they are not satisfied with the turn of events, they should proceed to court instead of inciting peaceful tea growers,” said Mr Kandie.

The summoned farmers expressed fear that their rights were being infringed by the police.

“What happened is not right as the reform agenda is in the public domain and the stakeholders are free to air their views,” said one of the farmers opposed to the Crops (Tea Industry) Regulations, 2020, issued by the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya in April, last year.

Directors protest

At the same time, the newly elected directors led by Moffat Mbue are still camping at local tea factories despite resistance from the KTDA management.

The directors, Mr Mbue said, are demanding information about the statuses of tea factories in Murang’a.

“More importantly, the directors want to be provided with the information on debts, monthly delivery of green leaf, teas in the stores in Mombasa and inventory of the assets,” said Mbue.