Ruto to Host KTDA Directors at State House
President William Ruto will host representatives from Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) factories at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, September 11, 2025. He will hand over a cheque of over Sh2 billion recovered from two banks that collapsed five years ago.
The funds come from deposits that farmers had in Chase Bank Ltd and Imperial Bank Ltd. KTDA, together with the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC), has been working to recover these funds.
Meeting Details
About 400 representatives have been requested to meet in Nairobi CBD before taking buses to State House. The meeting, scheduled for 1 pm, will mark the handover of recovered deposits. A memo from KTDA Company Secretary Mathews Odero stated:
“This meeting will mark the handover of payment of deposits held by KTDA Holding Ltd under Chase Bank Ltd and Imperial Bank Ltd.”
KTDA and Tea Farmers
KTDA manages 54 factories across 16 tea-growing counties, including Bomet, Kericho, Nyamira, Kisii, Nandi, Vihiga, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi.
The agency works directly with over 611,000 farmers and indirectly impacts more than four million people. Tea is one of Kenya’s main export earners, contributing significantly to foreign exchange.
Recovering Deposits
In 2020, KTDA recovered about Sh1.7 billion from the collapsed banks—Sh1.4 billion from Chase Bank and Sh300 million from Imperial Bank. Thursday’s payment is part of ongoing efforts through KDIC’s Deposit Protection Fund, which safeguards depositors in case of bank failures.
Government Support for Tea Farmers
Ruto’s meeting comes alongside a Sh2 billion fertiliser subsidy program. Over the past two years, more than 180,000 metric tons of fertiliser have been made available at Sh2,500 per bag. The program aims to increase productivity and reduce farmers’ costs.
Former KTDA National Chair Enos Njeru said the subsidy ensures farmers continue buying fertiliser affordably. This is the second time Ruto is hosting KTDA directors, showing his commitment to the sector’s growth and farmers’ welfare.
