KTDA appoints Kanja Thuku as acting group CEO

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has announced the appointment of Kanja Thuku as Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, effective Tuesday, November 10, 2026, following the resignation of Francis Miano who is taking annual and terminal leave. The Board expressed confidence in Thuku's experience and institutional knowledge to assist in the leadership transition.

Thuku currently holds the position of KTDA Group Director for Special Programmes and boasts over three decades of experience in the agricultural sector and management. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi, Thuku has received management training in various fields including project management, logistics, fleet management, food manufacturing, agricultural practices, and sustainability strategies.

The Board confirmed that Miano's departure adhered to the agency's Human Resource Policy and Procedure Manual and a directive from the Board. Enos Njeru, Chairman of KTDA Holdings, expressed gratitude for Miano's service, stating the Board appreciated his dedication and wished him well in the future. As the leader of an agency pivotal to Kenya's smallholder tea industry, overseeing processing and marketing of tea through smallholder farmer-owned factories, Thuku's appointment is crucial to the sector's operations, farmer earnings, and competitiveness in export markets.