KENYA
The Nairobi High Court halted a controversial range of government ordered tea industry reforms pending judicial review in September.
Agriculture director C.S. Peter Munya, acting on behalf of President Kenyatta, named a committee to evaluate policy and review regulations and administrative reforms curtailing the powers of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).
KTDA responded with a suit alleging bias and conflicts of interest, citing specific committee members. In her ruling, Lady Justice Pauline Nyamweya said KTDA’s concerns “met the threshold of an arguable case” and scheduled a judicial review to begin in September.
Kenya’s exports fell by six million kilos during the first five months of the year, and auction prices are falling. Accessing markets is challenging, according to industry brokers as demand falls among critical trading partners including Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Egypt (down 15%).
The fiscal year that ended July 1 ended a year in which prices averaged Sh200 per kilo, about USD$2 per kilo. Export earnings during the first five months of the year declined Sh1.3 billion (USD$12 million)