The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings Ltd has launched a competitive, merit-based process to appoint a new Group Chief Executive Officer.

The move follows the departure of Wilson Muthaura, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 and proceeded on terminal leave.

The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development announced the recruitment process on January 19, 2026. He said the selection would focus strictly on competence, sector experience, and leadership skills.

“The selection will be strictly merit-driven and free from bias, with emphasis on proven competence, sector experience, and leadership capacity,” he stated.

KTDA supports over 700,000 smallholder tea farmers through its network of factories and subsidiaries. The agency oversees tea processing, marketing, and related services across the country.

The new CEO will assume leadership during a critical period for the sector, as farmers face challenges from global market fluctuations, a stronger Kenyan shilling, and rising operational costs.

Miano takes acting charge

On January 16, 2026, KTDA appointed Francis Miano as Acting Group CEO. Miano is a registered professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience and previously headed the Group’s Technical Services Division. The board praised his knowledge of KTDA operations and its processes.

KTDA Holdings Chairman Chege Kirundi expressed gratitude to Muthaura for his service.

Muthaura led KTDA from October 2021, following a period as Acting CEO from June that year. Before joining KTDA, he worked in banking and served as CEO of the Kenya Tea Packers Association. During his tenure, he led reforms to improve efficiency, governance, and farmer earnings.

Initiatives included market diversification, better access to buyers, and sustainability programmes, such as climate-resilient tea varieties.

The leadership change comes as KTDA continues to implement strategic reforms across the tea value chain. The agency has highlighted resilience in the sector despite challenging conditions, noting efforts to increase sales and reduce reliance on traditional markets.