Court halts ouster of KTDA chairman amid ‘dramatic’ resignation

Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings Limited chairman David Ichoho has made a dramatic exit from the organisation two years after assuming the position.

According to a letter to the KTDA Group Company Secretary dated Tuesday, June 11, 2023, and which bears a stamp showing it was received by Company Secretary on the same day, Ichoho’s resignation is effective this Friday, July 14, 2023.

However, it does not give reasons for the decision, and despite having a company secretary’s stamp, it does not bear a signature.

Speaking to Business Hub, Ichoho claimed the handwritten resignation letter was authored by some directors being pushed by senior government officers who want to change leadership at the agency.
Conservatory orders

“I hereby tender my resignation as the chairman of KTDA (H) with immediate effect from Friday, 14th July 2023 at 1400hrs,” reads the letter which was handwritten and signed by Ichoho.

The embattled chairman has, however, obtained conservatory orders from the High Court to bar the directors from removing him from office.

The evolving leadership wrangles at the agency rekindle past scenarios where chairmen of the board have either been kicked out or forced to resign to pave the way for new entrants mostly being pushed by the executive.

Ichoho acknowledged that after the tea conference in Kericho last week, a section of directors started the move to have him replaced, claiming he is part of a stumbling block to implementing tea reforms.
“I told the directors leadership changes at the agency