KTDA mourns national vice-chair Eric Chepkwony

  The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has paid tribute to its national vice chairperson, Eric Chepkwony, who passed away on Wednesday.

In a message, the Agency’s chairman, Chege Kirundi, termed his death a big loss not only to the county and his family but also to the tea farming community.

Chege described him as good-natured, knowledgeable, dependable, and soft-spoken, as he recounted their last conversation on Wednesday afternoon.

“I spoke with him on the phone, and he told me he was running late for a finance meeting that we were to hold,” he said.

He added, “He did not show any signs of sickness or any stress.”

Expressing shock at the death, Chege further recalled meeting him during a board meeting last week, saying he was in high spirits.

Chepkwony, who also served as the Bomet County Chief Officer for Finance, ICT, and Economic Planning, is said to have collapsed and passed away in Nairobi.

Until his death, he also served as Kapset Tea Factory director.

He was first appointed as the chief officer for Cooperatives in December 2022 before being moved to Public Works and subsequently to Finance in September 2023, a position he held until his death.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok announced his death in a statement on Thursday morning.

He said he was shocked and in disbelief upon learning of his untimely passing.

“My heart goes out to his family, the people of Bomet, and the KTDA as we come to terms with the devastating news,” Barchok said.

He also extended his prayers and support to the bereaved family, assuring them that the county government would stand with them during this difficult time.

The exact cause of his death is yet to be established.