A fire broke out at Ngere Tea Factory in Gatanga, Murang'a County, on the night of Monday, September 1.
The blaze, which was confirmed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency Management Services (KTDA MS), was reported to have started near the factory's sorting area.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 2, the KTDA confirmed that there had been no injuries or fatalities during the incident, amid concerns among tea farmers regarding potential disruption to operations and tea processing at the facility.
“The Kenya Tea Development Agency Management Services (KTDA MS) wishes to inform our farmers, stakeholders, and the general public of a fire incident that occurred on the night of Monday, September 1, at Ngere Tea Factory in Gatanga, Murang'a County,” part of the statement read.
The fire was quickly contained after the Murang'a County and Thika fire brigades joined the efforts.
"The fire was promptly contained through the swift action of first responders from the Ngere area, working alongside the Murang'a County and Thika fire brigades.
We extend our sincere gratitude to them for their timely intervention, which ensured the situation was quickly brought under control," the agency stated.
The agency assured farmers and stakeholders that the factory remains operational after the incident.
It added that a technical team is now assessing the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.
KTDA said it remains committed to protecting farmers’ interests and will continue giving updates as restoration efforts continue.
“We wish to inform our farmers and stakeholders that the factory remains operational. Our technical team is assessing the root cause of the fire and the extent of the damage caused.”
“KTDA MS is committed to ensuring that farmers' interests are safeguarded. We shall continue providing regular updates as we progress towards full restoration,” it stated.
