Kanja Thuku named acting KTDA CEO
Kanja Thuku, with over 34 years at the agency, takes over from retiring Eng Francis Miano.
Kanja Thuku was appointed acting Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) on November 10, 2026, replacing Eng Francis Miano who is retiring. Thuku, currently Group Director for Special Programmes, brings over 34 years of experience and institutional knowledge to the role. The KTDA Holding Board Chairman Enos Njeru announced the appointment following a strategic management review.
The board directed the new acting CEO to focus on stabilizing earnings for smallholder tea factories and implementing reforms to reduce production costs. Eng Miano, who served as acting CEO since January 2026, has proceeded on his terminal leave. Thuku holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi and has training in management, logistics, and agricultural practices.
This leadership change occurs amidst an ongoing dispute over the position of KTDA Board Chairman Enos Njeru. Njeru is challenging the legitimacy of a recent election that named James Githinji Mwangi as chairman. The governance concerns affect the management of interests for hundreds of thousands of smallholder tea farmers.
Why it mattersThe appointment of an acting CEO and ongoing leadership disputes at KTDA affect the management and earnings of hundreds of thousands of smallholder tea farmers.