A policy by Kenya Tea Development Authority to allow using of shares during voting of regional directors has come under immense criticisms from a number of farmers allied to Nyansiongo tea factory.
The shares policy was introduced in 2011 and has been applied for a period of four years with a person who gunners’ majority votes in terms of shares elected as a regional representative.
Speaking at Borabu Hotel, the farmers led by Kennedy Ombori said the policy only favored people with money who ‘easily’ compromised farmers with majority shares to vote them in.
“This issue of using shares is really promoting poor leadership and corruption in our tea sector. It’s actually the easiest way of imposing leaders on us because the haves compromises farmers with many shares, most of whom who are rich too to denying genuine farmers from clinching leadership,” he said.
According to them, they had written to KTDA national Director Mr Kennedy Omanga and recommended that the policy be dropped and be replaced with 'one farmer one vote' for the sake of promoting transparency.
“We have written to the National director and our recommendation is that we want a one farmer one vote factor that we used years ago to elect our representatives. The current policy gives unpopular candidate a chance to lead because he or she can secure fewer farmers with highest number of shares and get voted in against the will of the majority,” he said.