The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings board has elected James Githinji Mwangi as its new chairman. He replaces Enos Njeru after a fresh board election, The Star reported. KTDA announced the change on Tuesday. Samson Mosonik Menjo stays on as vice chairman.
KTDA did not say why Njeru left. It also gave no details of the vote that put Mwangi in charge. According to The Star, the agency announced no changes to the wider board. It also set out no new policy priorities under Mwangi.
In a statement, KTDA told farmers that operations would continue without disruption. "KTDA reassures all stakeholders that business operations will proceed seamlessly, with an unwavering focus on driving efficiency and promoting the best interests of tea farmers," the agency said.
The agency matters to growers. It supports more than 700,000 smallholder farmers through tea processing, factory management and marketing, The Star reported. KTDA works with tea factories across the country. Its leaders therefore influence farmers' earnings, how efficiently factories run and how well Kenyan tea competes in international markets.
This is the latest in a string of leadership changes. Njeru first became chairman in July 2023 after David Ichoho resigned. He was re-elected in August 2024 for a three-year term. In January 2025, Chege Kirundi replaced him after a board election that led to a dispute over the leadership. Njeru won the seat back on March 4, 2026.
According to The Star, the changes show how contested the agency's leadership has become. When Njeru returned in March, KTDA said the board was committed to stronger corporate governance and to protecting farmers' value. It also pledged to make Kenyan tea competitive in regional and international markets. The agency has also been pursuing reforms on governance, compliance and accountability.
Mwangi takes over as the sector faces pressure to raise returns to growers and strengthen governance. His first job will be to lead the board through the transition. He must also keep the confidence of farmers and other stakeholders.