This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
Published on October 31, 2019, the tea factory directors' polls have taken a surprising turn, with religion becoming a key factor in the elections.
Incumbent directors are trying to win the support of tea farmers, but some of their opponents are being backed by church leaders.
This trend could lead to a situation where non-religious individuals support candidates not affiliated with any particular religion.
One such case is in Embomos zone, where John Kering is facing a new challenger, Simon Cheruiyot, who is enjoying the support of a particular church.
Most directors are defending their seats, including Kering, who has served for over 15 years and is still a respected leader among farmers due to his accessibility.
However, farmers are also concerned about the low payment of tea bonuses and the poor quality of green tea leaves in the region.
Directors and management have been criticized for remaining silent on the issue of poor payment, only to emphasize the importance of maintaining quality for better payment.
Other notable elections include the Kapset Tea Factory chairman, Raymond Milgo, who will face off against former director John Terer.
