The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) board announced that Kanja Thuku will assume the role of acting Group Chief Executive Officer, with the appointment taking effect on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
Thuku has spent 34 years with the agency and presently serves as Group Director for Special Programmes. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi and has completed training in logistics, fleet management, project management, food manufacturing, agricultural practices, sustainability strategies and climate-smart systems. Enos Njeru, chairman of the KTDA Holding Board, said: “Kanja is a seasoned leader with over 34 years of experience and currently serves as Group Director, Special Programmes at KTDA. He brings extensive experience and deep institutional knowledge to the role,”.
The change follows the departure of Eng. Francis Miano, who has gone on annual and terminal leave in accordance with the agency’s Human Resource Policy and a board directive. Miano had been acting chief executive since January after former Group CEO Wilson Muthaura left the position. Enos Njeru added: “The Board sincerely appreciates Eng. Miano’s dedicated service to the organization and wishes him well in his future.”
The board also confirmed that chairman Enos Njeru remains the substantive chairman after a court order reinstated him following a brief removal, with conservatory orders of stay issued to maintain his position.
KTDA manages a network of tea factories that process and market tea for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers, making its leadership critical to farmer earnings and Kenya’s competitiveness in export markets.
