The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has appointed Eng. Francis Miano as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following the exit of Wilson Muthaura, who has since proceeded on terminal leave.
According to a notice issued by the KTDA, Miano is expected to assume his duties effective Friday, January 16, 2026.
“KTDA Holdings Limited Board has appointed Eng. Francis Miano as the Acting Group CEO, effective Friday, 16th January 2026,” read part of a notice.
The agency also appreciated Muthaura’s dedicated service to the organisation and wished him well in his future endeavours.
KTDA Appoints Eng. Miano as New Acting CEO
Eng. Miano is a registered professional engineer and a corporate member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.
He is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience and is currently the Head of the Group Technical Services Division at KTDA.
KTDA noted that his extensive technical and managerial expertise, combined with deep institutional knowledge, is expected to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in the agency’s operations.
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Following the announcement, the Board expressed confidence in Eng. Miano’s ability to lead the organisation during this period, stating his proven track record in delivering results and overseeing critical technical functions across the agency.
Career Background of Eng. Miano
Francis Miano has more than 30 years of professional and managerial experience, particularly within the technical and engineering sectors.
Before his appointment as Acting CEO, he served at KTDA for several years, most recently as General Manager of the Group Technical Services Division.
He is a registered professional engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) and a corporate member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK).
Achievements
Notably, Francis Miano has played a key role in KTDA’s product diversification strategy, including the establishment of Africa’s first Japanese Sencha Green Tea production factory in Kangaita, Nyeri County.
As the lead engineer, he oversaw construction, equipment installation, and collaboration with partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
He also supported orthodox tea production lines in multiple factories and led KTDA teams to success in energy efficiency initiatives, including the team that won a trophy for Kapsara Tea Factory at the Energy Management Awards in October 2020, recognizing innovations in sustainable energy use within tea processing.
Recently, Eng. Francis Miano has been vocal about KTDA’s strategies to expand markets, noting that, with government support, the agency has diversified its exports over the past three years, reducing reliance on traditional markets.
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Wilson Muthaura, Former CEO of KTDA
KTDA board appointed Wilson Muthaura as the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on October 1, 2021.
Muthaura served as the Acting Group CEO of KTDA Holdings Limited and held senior leadership positions across private and public institutions for more than 24 years before being appointed.
In a statement, the KTDA Holdings Limited Chairman, David Ichoho, congratulated Muthaura and commented on his ability to lead the organization towards attaining its goals.
With the exit of Muthaura, Francis Miano is expected to steer KTDA to the next level.
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