Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Limited (KTDA) has announced the election of James Omweno Ombasa as the new Vice Chairman of its Board of Directors, a development that marks a fresh chapter in the agency ‘s leadership.
The election was held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Enashipai Resort & Spa in Naivasha. It was officially certified by the Returning Officer, CS Mathews Ouma Odero, who signed and sealed the certificate of election. Committed to the tea industry, Ombasa was already announced the winner of the vice chairmanship contest, and his triumph was a testimony to how much the stakeholders trust his leadership. It is expected that his presence will be comforting and provide fresh resources to the agency at such a critical moment of great changes in the tea sector.
As Vice-Chairman, Ombasa will support the newly elected Chairman, Chege Kirundi, in leading KTDA through the paths of openness, effectiveness, and the welfare of the farmers.
The agency’s concern for farmers, which is embodied in the motto “Farmers First,” will be the underlying principle of his administration since it intends to bring down the tea money standard of living for smallholders and make them thrive.
Supported by the already present supporter reforms with a refocus on the promotion of the tea industry’s daunting ventures, Ombasa is envisioned to be the main focus on the realisation of such goals.
He promised to carry out open international direct sales of the Kenyan tea which will augment the regular outlets and further his commitment to stability in the market by enabling exporters and accessing new trading markets.
They have proven that his rise to power would be beneficial to all sectors. They are assured that his visionary leadership will create favourable conditions for more exceptional farmer empowerment, enable better policy formulation through good governance, and advance the growth of the sector in a sustainable manner.
His vision is well with that of KTDA, which is the primary driver of enhanced standards of living for Kenyan tea smallholders and is a major contributor to Kenya’s global tea excellence reputation.
The tea sector is expected to expand its support of the small-scale tea sector, which forms the backbone of the sector, and the welfare of the over 600,000 farmers who depend on tea for their livelihoods will be improved if Ombasa as Vice Chairman of the Kenya Tea Development Agency.
His leadership guarantees a future where farmers will have more significant development, more substantial representation, and more significant global-level opportunities.
