Farmers’ Protests Prompt Government Action Against Tea Factory Directors
Six directors from the Michiimikuru Tea Factory in Tigania East, Meru County, have been instructed to vacate their positions following allegations of financial mismanagement. The directive came from Agriculture Principal Secretary (PS) Paul Rono, during his visit to the factory on Saturday, November 23, for a fact-finding mission.
“Directors should step aside, and those appointed in an interim capacity must not exploit the farmers’ funds,” Rono asserted. “If any of these interim leaders are found guilty of misconduct, they too will face severe consequences. The directors responsible for these crimes must leave office to pave the way for investigations.”
The move follows an outcry from farmers who protested last month, accusing the factory’s management of neglecting their grievances. The farmers, who are members of the oldest tea factory in the region, expressed frustration over receiving low bonuses despite consistently producing high-quality tea in large quantities.
In September, the disgruntled farmers voted to oust all six directors during an Annual General Meeting (AGM). Upholding the decision, Rono launched an official probe into the factory’s financial records and announced that a team from Nairobi would visit the factory next week to begin investigations.
Despite its historical significance, Michiimikuru Tea Factory has not been immune to the administrative conflicts that have frequently troubled similar factories and cooperative societies across the country. Farmers have repeatedly raised concerns about low payouts and mismanagement.
This case echoes a similar incident in Murang’a County in September, where Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya dismissed the entire management of Kangunu Cooperative Society. Oparanya cited gross misconduct and unauthorized deductions of five per cent from farmers’ bonuses. Following the dismissal, he mandated fresh elections within two weeks to elect new leadership.
For Michiimikuru farmers, the ongoing probe offers a glimmer of hope for justice and reforms in their beloved factory. As Rono emphasized, accountability remains paramount, and no stone will be left unturned in addressing the farmers’ plight.
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Farmers’ Protests Prompt Government Action Against Tea Factory Directors
