 |
| Kenya Tea Development Agency Logo |
In an effort to tighten its governance and cut operational expenses, Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has suspended all staff travel, off-site meetings and training in its subsidiaries.
In an internal memo dated October 21, the KTDA management notified general managers and heads of the various departments that the directive is in line with the priorities of the group of compliance and cost control.
All travel of the staff is canceled until further notice.
"There will be no traveling, either local or overseas, without the direct written permission of the Holdings Board by the Group CEO," the memo read in part.
The directive also prohibits the holding of any extraneous meetings, whether held in hotels or tea factory premises, unless specifically deemed by the Group CEO and Holdings Board.
In the same manner, every training program that was scheduled or in progress has been suspended until it gets the top management's approval.
KTDA also ordered all the heads of the subsidiaries to forward the order as soon as possible and implement it in every department.
 |
| Agriculture Principal Secretary, Kiprono Paul |
Only operationally critical functions will be accepted, provided that they are written.
The suspension is due to the government audits of loans borrowed by KTDA-controlled tea factories.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kipronoh indicated that the investigation was conducted after farmers complained of getting less bonus payments during the current financial year.
"These issues have led to a thorough examination of the financial requirements and management habit in the factories," Ronoh said.
In a letter to the Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy Mutai, the PS instructed the board to evaluate all the loans, including the use of funds, the terms of the loan and the current balances.
Consequently, the board should hand its findings to the Ministry of Agriculture in 14 days.
Over 680,000 smallholder tea farmers who are served by KTDA have also complained that they are getting decreased incomes and this has left a new questioning look at the financial management of the agency.
0 Comments