NAIROBI, Kenya, July 4 – Finlays Tea Company has called out for the removal of the Director of Toror Tea Factory, a KTDA factory, John Chebochok, following allegations of sexual harassment against women.
In a letter directed to the Kenya Tea Development Association’s (KTDA’s) senior management, Finlay’s Corporate Affairs Director Ben Woolf has warned that the company will not continue purchasing tea from the factory if action is not taken against Chebochok.
Woolf pointed out that the sexual abuse allegation made against Chebakok ‘in the BBC documentary of February 2023’ prompted Finlay to report and terminate his contract with the company, but no action was taken against him by the Authorities.
“Please be aware that we will not be able to continue to purchase tea from the Toror Tea factory while Mr Chebochok holds the role of the director. We are monitoring this situation closely and trust you will take swift and decisive action on this matter. We look forward to receiving your urgent response,” he noted.
Woolf has further pointed out that the retention of the director will compromise the customer/ supplier relationship, further risking the reputation of the KTDA and the tea industry in the country.
However, responding to the matter, KTDA says that it does not hold the mandate to dismiss Chebochok, rather it claims that the Toror factory shareholders have the full responsibility to make the final decision.
“He was elected by one of the 6 electoral areas of the factory on 28June 2024 and the shareholders of the factory will have to make the final decision on a special general meeting on whether to accept him as the factory manager or not,”it stated.
Furthermore, Woolf has stressed that retaining Chebochok in his current position will counteract the laborious efforts pumped by various organizations in the country and around the world to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence.
“While no charges were ultimately brought, the undercover footage of Mr Chobochok, as well as the testimony of survivors featured within the documentary, cannot be ignored. It is our strong view that it is untenable for Mr Chebochok to hold any position within the KTDA,” he stated
