This archive report was first published on 2 July 2019.
Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged the Director of Criminal Investigations to probe the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) over allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
According to reports, the agency has exploited small-scale tea farmers by siphoning off hundreds of billions of shillings over the years.
KTDA has been accused of depositing over Sh4 billion with collapsed banks without due diligence, paying farmers below average prices, and engaging in corrupt investments.
Additionally, the agency has been accused of refusing to order a forensic audit, blocking tea factories from joining the Kenya Tea Traders Association, and employing managers earning hundreds of thousands of shillings per month.
These allegations have sparked a crisis at KTDA, with several lawyers abandoning the agency and questioning the motives of the Court of Appeal's President, Justice William Ouko, who has not given a hearing date for a second contempt of court case.
As the crisis deepens, Raila's call for an investigation is seen as a major blow to the KTDA's management, who have thrived on their relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his uncle George Muhoho.
