
Kirundi’s transformative agenda for tea farmers
- Africa
- June 10, 2025
The president of the Kenyan Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Chege Kirundi, has outlined an ambitious strategic agenda aimed at repositioning the country’s tea industry as a globally competitive, sustainable and centered company focused on farmers.
Its reform plan is designed to address systemic inefficiencies, improve operational transparency and offer improved yields for 680,000 small tea farmers.
In the center of Mr. Kirundi’s strategy, it is a commitment to ethical governance and financial sustainability, with a guiding principle or “first farmers.” Under his leadership, KTDA is trying to balance commercial viability with environmental and social responsibility, in alignment with global environmental, social and governance standards (ESG).
The Kenyan tea sector has dealt for a long time with volatile international prices, production inefficiencies, governance deficiencies and satisfaction of farmers in decline. KTDA herself has faced scrutiny about alleged poor management and insufficient value delivery to its interested parties. Mr. Kirundi, however, sees long -standing thesis as opportunities for deep structural reform.
It is leading a transformation based on transparency, responsibility and innovation, focusing on strengthening internal governance, reducing operating costs and improving the agency’s ability to respond to the needs of farmers.
The reform agenda of Mr. Kirundi presents several key pillars that include operational efficiency. Modern technologies and digital platforms will be adopted to rationalize production, processing and marketing activities. These include advanced agricultural methods, automated factory processes and data -based logistics systems. The development of human capital is a key pillar of the ktda of Pilar Kirundi.
He wants to see KTDA invest a lot in training programs and factor workers, aimed at improving agricultural practices, increasing productivity and guaranteeing consistent quality standards.
He is also interested in market diversity. Here, hey, see the agency plans to expand its footprint in local and international markets through strategic associations and product diversification. Added value services, such as commercial entities, insurance services and packaging companies, will reduce the dependence of bulk tea exports and improve profitability.
The president of the KTDA focuses on sustainable practices that include compliance with the environment, social and governance (ESG). These initiatives will focus on responsible agriculture, waste reduction and the use of sustainable energy, reinforcing Kenya’s reputation as a leader in the ethical production of tea.
President of the Kenyan Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Chege Kirundi with the secretary of the Mutahi Kagwe Agriculture Cabinet. Photo/UGC.
On the governance and transparency of affairs, Kirundi wants the introduction of solid audit mechanisms, transparent financial and metric financial reports to improve responsibility. A clear performance indicators will track profitability, operational effectiveness and market growth.
The inclusion and empowerment of farmers are fundamental components of the new leadership approach. Through structured consultation forums, farmers will participate directly in the decision -making trials of the agencies. This participatory model aims to restore the confidence of interested parties and ensure that the reforms reflect the priorities of the agricultural community.
In addition, KTDA is evaluating its cost structures to identify areas for efficiency gains. By renegotiating market prices and improving internal logistics, Kirundi aims to maximize net yields for farmers.
Mr. Kirundi’s strategy is closely aligned with the 2020 Tea Law, which introduced high -range reforms to improve governance, justice and responsibility within the sector. Its leadership aims at the operational thesis of legislative objectives by incorporating reform into the corporate culture and strategic planning agencies.
Kirundi imagines a future in which Ktda is not only a dominant player by volume, but a global reference point for quality, sustainability and ethical trade. Its long -term plan implies ghost collaboration between government agencies, private investors and producers’ cooperatives to create a resistant and inclusive supply chain ecosystem.
By improving the global reputation of the industry, Mr. Kirundi is expected to attract foreign investment and promote long -term sectoral growth. The planned transformation will allow KTDA to offer higher results for farmers while ensuring Kenya’s position in the international tea market.
The leadership of Mr. Kirundi represses a decisive change in the strategic direction of Ktda. Its comprehensive reform plan focused on innovation, governance and inclination and inclanity has the potential to address long -standing sector challenges and unlock new growth opportunities.
If effective, the transformation could a new era for the Kenyan tea industry, characterized by improvements in farmers’ living, stronger institutional integrity and improved global competitiveness.