Chege Kirundi’s envisaged reforms at KTDA purpose to ship improved returns for the nation’s 680,000 smallholder tea farmers. PHOTO/UGC.
By FRED SOME
Kenya Tea Improvement Company (KTDA) chairman, Chege Kirundi, has outlined an bold strategic agenda aimed toward repositioning the nation’s tea trade as a globally aggressive, sustainable, and farmer-centric enterprise.
His reform plan is designed to deal with systemic inefficiencies, improve operational transparency, and ship improved returns for the nation’s 680,000 smallholder tea farmers.
On the core of Mr Kirundi’s technique is a dedication to moral governance and monetary sustainability, with a tenet of “farmers first”. Below his management, KTDA is in search of to stability industrial viability with environmental and social accountability, in alignment with international Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements.
Kenya’s tea sector has lengthy grappled with unstable worldwide pricing, manufacturing inefficiencies, governance shortcomings, and declining farmer satisfaction. KTDA itself has confronted scrutiny over alleged mismanagement and inadequate worth supply to its stakeholders. Mr Kirundi, nevertheless, views these longstanding points as alternatives for deep structural reform.
He’s spearheading a change grounded in transparency, accountability, and innovation—specializing in strengthening inside governance, decreasing operational prices, and enhancing the company’s responsiveness to farmer wants.
Mr Kirundi’s reform agenda options a number of key pillars that features operational effectivity. Trendy applied sciences and digital platforms will probably be adopted to streamline manufacturing, processing, and advertising and marketing actions. These embrace superior farming strategies, automated manufacturing facility processes, and data-driven logistics techniques. Human capital growth is a key pillar Mr Kirundi’s KTDA plans.
He desires to see KTDA make investments closely in coaching programmes for farmers and manufacturing facility employees, aimed toward bettering agricultural practices, boosting productiveness, and making certain constant high quality requirements.
He’s additionally eager on market diversification. Right here he desires to see the company plans to increase its footprint in each native and worldwide markets by strategic partnerships and product diversification. Worth-added providers reminiscent of buying and selling entities, insurance coverage providers, and packaging companies will scale back reliance on bulk tea exports and enhance profitability.
The KTDA chairman is concentrated on sustainable practices that features environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance. These initiatives will give attention to accountable farming, waste discount, and sustainable power use, reinforcing Kenya’s status as a pacesetter in moral tea manufacturing.
Kenya Tea Improvement Company (KTDA) chairman, Chege Kirundi with Agriculture Cupboard Secretary Mutahi Kagwe. PHOTO/UGC.
On issues governance and transparency, Mr Kirundi desires the introduction of strong auditing mechanisms, clear monetary reporting, and efficiency metrics to boost accountability. A framework of clear efficiency indicators will observe profitability, operational effectiveness, and market progress.
Farmer inclusion and empowerment are pivotal parts of the brand new management strategy. By means of structured session boards, farmers will probably be instantly concerned within the company’s decision-making processes. This participatory mannequin goals to revive stakeholder belief and be certain that reforms replicate the priorities of the farming group.
Moreover, KTDA is evaluating its price buildings to establish areas for effectivity good points. By renegotiating market costs and bettering inside logistics, Kirundi goals to maximise web returns to farmers.
Mr Kirundi’s technique aligns intently with the Tea Act of 2020, which launched wide-ranging reforms to enhance governance, equity, and accountability throughout the sector. His management goals to operationalise these legislative aims by embedding reform throughout the company’s company tradition and strategic planning.
Mr Kirundi envisions a future the place KTDA is just not solely a dominant participant by quantity however a worldwide benchmark for high quality, sustainability, and moral commerce. His long-term plan includes fostering collaboration amongst authorities our bodies, non-public traders, and producer cooperatives to create a resilient and inclusive provide chain ecosystem.
By enhancing the trade’s international status, Mr Kirundi’s reforms are anticipated to draw overseas funding and drive long-term sectoral progress. The envisioned transformation will allow KTDA to ship superior outcomes for farmers whereas securing Kenya’s place within the worldwide tea market.
Mr Kirundi’s management represents a decisive shift within the strategic course of KTDA. His complete reform plan—centred on innovation, governance, and inclusivity—has the potential to deal with long-standing sectoral challenges and unlock new progress alternatives.
If successfully applied, the transformation may herald a brand new period for Kenya’s tea trade, characterised by improved farmer livelihoods, stronger institutional integrity, and enhanced international competitiveness.
