Tea farmers are grappling with the shocking revelations from a recent audit report that exposes the theft of over Ksh 600 million (US$4.8 million) by officials at the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).
This damning 130-page document, presented to President William Ruto, reveals a meticulously planned and executed scheme to siphon off farmers’ hard-earned money.
The audit uncovers several layers of financial malfeasance:- Over Ksh 600 million vanished through dubious transactions orchestrated by KTDA officials.- Ksh 3 billion in dividends meant for farmers disappeared, linked to collapsed banks.- Ksh 101 million was overpaid to lawyers for services rendered.- Ksh 542 million was wasted on inflated land purchases by KTDA.
One egregious example of the financial mismanagement involves a 50-acre plot in Nyandarua, purchased for Ksh 39,984,000 (Ksh 800,000 per acre).
A valuation report, however, indicated the market value was only Ksh 750,000 per acre.
This discrepancy led to an overpayment of Ksh 50,000 per acre, totaling Ksh 2.5 million for the entire purchase.
Another case highlighted in the audit involves the acquisition of eight hectares of land in Laikipia/Nyahururu for Ksh 15,515,600. The land was intended for a wood fuel plantation, yet a KTDA forest officer’s report deemed it unsuitable for that purpose, raising questions about the decision-making process and the ultimate use of these funds.
The revelations have sent shockwaves through the tea farming community.
Farmers, who rely heavily on the dividends and returns from their tea crops, are now facing significant financial uncertainty.
The misappropriation of Ksh 3 billion in dividends, tied to the collapse of several banks, adds to the farmers’ woes, further compounding their financial instability.
The overpayment of Ksh 101 million to lawyers also raises serious concerns about the internal controls and oversight mechanisms within KTDA.
This misuse of funds, which were supposed to support and protect the farmers’ interests, has instead been diverted into the pockets of a few unscrupulous individuals.
The misuse of Ksh 542 million on inflated land purchases illustrates the extent of the corruption within the agency.
These transactions, which were supposed to enhance the agency’s assets and ultimately benefit the farmers, have instead drained significant resources, leaving the farmers to bear the brunt of these financial losses.
The audit report has sparked a call for urgent action from both the government and the relevant authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for this massive plunder.
It underscores the critical need for stringent oversight and accountability measures to protect the interests of the farmers and ensure that such egregious misuse of funds does not happen again.
As President Ruto reviews the audit findings, there is a pressing need for swift and decisive action to restore trust in KTDA and to secure justice for the thousands of farmers who have been affected by this scandal.
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