Intrigues behind ex-KTDA Muthaura’s ‘sacking’ during Naivasha board retreat
The controversial exit of former Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Chief Executive Officer Wilson Muthaura has once again laid bare deep-seated leadership wrangles, boardroom intrigue, and political undercurrents within the powerful tea agency.
Investigations by The Informer Weekly indicate that Muthaura’s departure, much like that of his predecessor Samuel Lerionka Tiampati was effectively sealed during a “stormy” KTDA board retreat held at Enashipai Resort in Naivasha.
Although Muthaura’s contract formally expired in October 2025, the manner of his exit has raised serious questions about governance at KTDA. T
he board neither renewed his contract nor appointed a substantive replacement, instead settling on Eng. Francis Miano as acting CEO. This decision has triggered an unprecedented leadership vacuum that threatens to destabilise an agency central to Kenya’s tea industry.
“The board is confident in his ability to provide steady leadership as the organisation transitions,” Miano’s welcome public notice by KTDA read in part.
Insiders reveal that the 12-member KTDA Board is deeply divided. One faction pushed for continuity, arguing that Muthaura’s leadership had initiated important reforms, including streamlining operations, modernising governance structures, and addressing long-standing concerns of smallholder tea farmers.
The opposing faction favoured a leadership change, insisting the sector requires fresh direction to confront persistent problems such as regional disparities in bonuses and tea prices.
These internal divisions mirror broader fault lines in Kenya’s tea industry, where historical, regional, and ethnic tensions intersect with powerful political interests. KTDA’s strategic role overseeing tea production and marketing for more than 600,000 smallholder farmers has long made it a magnet for political influence, given the sector’s multibillion-shilling value and its importance to millions of livelihoods.
The leadership standoff has been further inflamed by accusations of “tribal politics,” with Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Paul Ronoh emerging as a lightning rod in the debate.
Farmers west of the Rift Valley have increasingly demanded that the next CEO be drawn from their region, citing perceived marginalisation and persistent disparities in bonus payments and tea pricing compared to the Mt Kenya region.
Relations between KTDA Chairman Chege Kirundi and Muthaura reportedly deteriorated in the period leading up to the CEO’s exit, adding another layer to the intrigue.
As political and regional considerations increasingly shape boardroom decisions, concerns are growing that KTDA’s credibility and impartiality are being eroded.
