- Contrary to the previous system where votes were based on shareholding, one farmer only represented one vote in the concluded polls.
- This was the second instance that farmers were participating in this voting method as part of the KTDA reforms.
Image: Linturi/X
Electoral agency IEBC will on Sunday afternoon hand over the election results for KTDA directors to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithuka Linturi.
The election results from all the 54 smallholder tea factories which were held on Friday and Saturday will be released by IEBC Chief Executive Officer Hussein Marjan.
''The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) concluded the election of directors for the smallholder tea factories. In this regard, The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development will preside over the official release of the election results on June 30, 2024, at 3.00 pm at Kilimo House,'' reads a media invite.
The elections follow a court directive issued on April 11 this year following wrangles between KTDA and former directors.
IEBC's supervision of the polls is part of the ongoing reforms in the tea sub-sector.
The commission was also charged with handling dispute resolution functions that may have emerged from the process.
Contrary to the previous system where votes were based on shareholding, one farmer only represented one vote in the concluded polls.
This was the second instance that farmers were participating in this voting method as part of the KTDA reforms.
Marjan had on Friday postponed polls in some factories due to “unprecedented logistical hitches in the production and delivery of election materials”.
Marjan regretted any inconvenience caused by the postponement and assured farmers that polls in areas where voting did not commence had been moved to Saturday.
“This is therefore, to inform our esteemed farmers, candidates, observers, stakeholders and the public that the elections in the affected areas have been postponed to tomorrow Saturday, June 29, 2024, between 7 am and 3 pm,” he said.
“The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission assures all its stakeholders that it is committed to ensuring that the elections are free, fair, and credible,” the CEO added.
He said the electoral areas affected were Kambaa, Kagwe, Gachege, Mataara, Ngere, Njunu, Nduti, Makomboki, Ikumbi, Gacharage, Kanyenyaini, Githambo, Kiru, Gatunguru Gitugi, Iriaini, Ragati, Chinga, Gathuthi, Kimunye, Thumaita, Ndima, Kangaita, Mununga, Rukuriri, Kathangariri and Mungania.