Former Murang'a MCA and reforms advocate elected to newlook Tea Board

Man casts his vote during the Tea board election [Courtesy]

Former MCA Charles Kirigwi was yesterday elected as the East of the Rift Valley smallholder tea farmers representative.

Kirigwi will represent Kiambu, Narok, Murang'a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Meru in the revived Tea Board of Kenya.

The former Ward Rep for Kinyona in Murang'a and former Ikumbi Tea Factory director got 33 votes while Francis Wanyaga, a former Chinga Tea Factory director, got 23 votes.

The exercise was conducted at the Nokras Riverline in Murang'a and presided over by Ministry of Agriculture official Naomi Kamau.

Some delegates from the 29 smallholder tea factories did not participate in the election because they lacked nomination letters.

It emerged that some factories had not the delegates, but lists emerged after the election was announced. For one to participate in the election, they must have a degree and be nominated by their tea factories.

Kirigwi advocated for reforms in the sector in the county assembly where he formulated the Murang’a County Tea Bill that met opposition from the former management of the Kenya Tea Development Agency in 2015.

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