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David Ichoho claimed he has been forced to resign from office without due process of the law.
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A statement sent to the new rooms on Thursday showed that the chairman’s resignation will take effect from Friday, July 14, 2023.
Image: HANDOUT
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings Limited (KTDA) chairman has moved to court to challenge his removal from office as chairman of the board of directors.
David Ichoho claimed he has been forced to resign from office without due process of the law.
He has obtained conservatory orders from the high court barring his removal from office.
A statement sent to the new rooms on Thursday showed that the chairman’s resignation will take effect from Friday, July 14, 2023, two years after assuming the role.
The handwritten letter sent to the KTDA Group Company Secretary dated Tuesday, June 11, 2023, indicated that Ichoho has resigned though it did not give the reason for his resignation.
The letter has the stamp of KTDA Group Company Secretary and Chief Legal Advisor and was received on July 11, 2023.
“I hereby tender my resignation as the chairman of KTDA (H) with immediate effect from Friday, July 14, 2023, at 1400hrs,” the letter which was handwritten and allegedly signed by Ichoho said.
The resignation comes soon after the conclusion of the Tea Reforms Conference last week in Kericho, which was hosted by DP Rigathi Gachagua who challenged KTDA to carry out meaningful reforms for the benefit of the smallholder tea farmer.
During the conference, the DP hit out at some individuals, saying he will be inviting the National Intelligence Service to move in and conduct an audit.
"Farmers are very good people and have sent us details. Somebody has travelled 36 times out of the country on farmers' money. You must agree to work with us or you lose everything, otherwise, as a government, we have a way of removing you from office so that we work together,” Gachagua said.
"We have received very crucial details from farmers, some of whom have texted me because I have never changed my number. I have done a few cross-checking and we are going to give our National Intelligence Service to verify so that we are not accused of being unfair."
Ichoho took the reins as KTDA Holdings Chairman in June 2021 following the nationwide ouster of the previous tea factory and KTDA board directors in line with the Jubilee Government’s directive for reforms in the smallholder tea farming sub-sector.