- Njeru is credited with reforms that boosted farmers’ green leaf pay.
- Rukuriri emerged among the top tea factories for bonus payments.
- Farmers say his return to KTDA leadership has renewed hope.
KTDA Chairman Enos Njeru is credited with tea reforms that raised farmers’ green leaf pay from Ksh 16 to Ksh 30 per kg since 2020.
The tea industry has gone through a transformation to comply with the Tea Act 2020, after the farmers yearned for changes to guide the sector to achieve better returns from the market.
Tea reforms and higher earnings for farmers
In the last four years, Enos Njeru has been a household name in the tea industry, following his dedication that led to the implementation of the tea reforms after he was elected a factory director in Embu, and subsequently appointed the KTDA Chairman.
Through the reforms, the growers got an increment in the green leaf payment from Ksh 16 to Ksh 30 per kg of green leaf, a move appreciated by the 700,000 tea farmers across the counties.
According to the farmers, Njeru has travelled widely sourcing for the market for Kenyan tea, and lobbying for the modernisation of the tea factories, eyeing the production of speciality teas.
“Since I took over the helm of the KTDA, I have managed to lead from the front, thus providing the much-needed returns to the growers,” said Njeru, adding that last year Rukuriri factory took the lead in the bonus payment of Ksh 57.50 per kg, in 2025.
In 2024, the Embu-based tea factory posted a bonus payment of Ksh 61.50 per kg.
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Njeru, during an exclusive interview, remembered with nostalgia how the farmers suffered, and prayed that day he would be part of the transformational change, focusing on uplifting their living standards.
Rebuilding institutional unity
Njeru, a director at Rukuriri Tea Factory, said he has ensured that farmers get the best from the industry through advocating for the standardised green leaf quality.
“I have also ensured the factory directors remain united, ending the squabbles that existed in the yesteryears, a move that has provided an institutional direction,” he added.
He said last year he was pushed out of the KTDA Holding Chairmanship for 11 months, and early this year the directors re-elected him to replace Chege Kirundi of Kiru Tea Factory, who had occupied the position.
Farmers credit Njeru’s leadership
A farmer, Samuel Muthara from Meru County, credits Njeru for leading from the front after his Rukuriri tea factory was identified as paying the best bonus and producing quality tea in the market.
Muthara said last year Rukuriri paid the best tea bonus, a move that encouraged the local farmers.
“At the tea auction, the factory has been doing its best to prove that Njeru is dedicated to uplifting the tea sector,” said Muthara.
Solomon Nguyo from Gatanga in Murang’a says the 11 months that Njeru was out of the KTDA leadership, a lot happened to the disadvantage of the farmers.
“The return of Njeru to the KTDA leadership early in the year was a relief to the farmers, with hope that all expectations will be met,” said Nguyo.
Nguyo points out that Njeru is credited for transparency and putting the interest of farmers first.
By our respondent
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