NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 23 – The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, has condemned sexual abuse at Kenyan tea firms that was exposed on the BBC.
Marriott said the appalling behavior has no place in society.
“I am concerned by the allegations of appalling behaviour made in this documentary – sexual abuse and exploitation has no place in society,” Marriott said on her Twitter handle.
A BBC expose detailed how female employees of Unilever and James Finlay & Co. tea plantations were allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse by the supervisors and managers of the tea firms.
Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, directed the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, to investigate the matter.
Haji said the allegations are contrary to Sections 4, 5, 6, 23(1), and 26 of the Sexual Offences Act, as well as Section 6(1) of the Kenya Employment Act.
“I welcome the commitment by the companies to investigate, cooperate with the Kenyan authorities, and take action to protect staff in Kenya,” Marriott added.
In the meantime, the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) demanded that the James Finlay and Unilever tea companies cease sourcing labour through contractors.
KPAWU instead wants the tea firms to offer direct employment to all contracted employees.
“Outsourcing of Labour affects the rights and welfare of workers considering they work at the mercy of contracted companies and not the parent company,” Francis Atwoli, Secretary General of KPAWU and COTU said.
