Editor's Review

  • Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) offices have been raised and staff members forbidden from leaving.

Reports have emerged that Kenya Tea Development Agency was on Friday 16 April 2021 raided by officers even after court orders barred police from the premises were issued.

In a presser released today, KTDA authorities claimed that staff members were locked in their offices and directed not t come out until the search is done.

The statement read:

The Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Limited Headquarters (Farmers Building along Moi Avenue in Nairobi) has this afternoon been raised by individuals who presented themselves as police officers.

They have appeared at the offices with an order from a Magistrate's court (Misc. Application No. E1248 of 2021), notwithstanding the existence of a High Court of Kenya Order (Petition No. E254 of 2020) restraining such an action.

The officers have held KTDA staff and barricaded them on the respective floors. The building entry and exit have been blocked denying the employees of their constitutional freedoms. The Constitution of Kenya is very clear about the mandates and procedures of all institutions in the country.

Uhuru's Orders

In March last month KTDA sued the government after President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the election of directors in tea factories before May 12.

President Kenyatta through an executive order of March 12 directed the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) to conduct elections in all tea factories within 60 days.

Farmers have been against the deployment of police officers during their elections.