[Kenya] Probe launched into sex abuse allegations at UK tea firms

In Kenya, lawmakers have announced that they will investigate accusations of sexual abuse on tea plantations that supply some of the UK’s favourite brands, Capital Business reports.

An undercover investigation by the BBC led to more than 70 women working in the plantations in Kenya’s Rift Valley revealing that they had been sexually abused by their supervisors for years.

The documentary, broadcast this week, reportedly caused an uproar in Kenya. The country is one of the world’s biggest tea exporters.

Beatrice Kemei is the Kericho County women’s representative in parliament, her constituency covers the areas where the tea farms are based. On February 21, Ms Kemei called for the “urgent” prosecution of the perpetrators.

She said she had watched the documentary “in utter shock and disbelief” and condemned the “atrocious act(s) in the strongest terms possible”.

Ms Kemei told parliament, “We must advocate for joint protection of women from such vices that demean them.”

The National Assembly’s deputy speaker Gladys Shollei has reportedly ordered a committee to get to the bottom of the allegations and file a report in a fortnight.

The BBC documentary focused on a Kenyan plantation that was, at the time, owned by UK household goods giant Unilever and another owned by the tea group James Finlay & Co.

The BBC said it spoke with dozens of victims who said they had to give in to managers’ sexual demands or lose their jobs.

One of the assaulted women was reportedly infected with HIV by her supervisor, while others fell pregnant.

One supervisor is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl who was living on-site at one of the plantations.

Secret filming also showed that local bosses had sought to pressure an undercover BBC reporter for sex.

Both companies have reportedly vowed to pursue independent investigations into the report.

Unilever told AFP it was “deeply shocked by the allegations in the BBC programme”.

James Finlay & Co also said it found the allegations “deeply shocking” and had suspended two individuals named in the documentary.

Jane Marriott - Britain’s High Commissioner to Kenya - said on February 22 that she was concerned by the “appalling behaviour” and added that “exploitation has no place in society.”

“I welcome the commitment by the companies to investigate, cooperate with the Kenyan authorities, and take action to protect staff in Kenya,” Ms Marriott said on Twitter.

Kericho governor Erick Mutai said county authorities had already begun investigating the foreign firms to “establish their complicity in this matter”.

According to government figures, Kenya exports an average of more than 500,000 tonnes of tea a year.

In 2022, Unilever reportedly completed the sale of its global tea business - including the brands Lipton and PG Tips - to CVC Capital Partners in a deal worth 4.5 billion euros. It has since been rebranded Lipton Teas and Infusions.

Source: Capital Business

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Kenya, lawmakers have announced that they will investigate accusations of sexual abuse on tea plantations that supply some of the UK’s favourite brands, Capital Business reports.

An undercover investigation by the BBC led to more than 70 women working in the plantations in Kenya’s Rift Valley revealing that they had been sexually abused by their supervisors for years.

The documentary, broadcast this week, reportedly caused an uproar in Kenya. The country is one of the world’s biggest tea exporters.

Beatrice Kemei is the Kericho County women’s representative in parliament, her constituency covers the areas where the tea farms are based. On February 21, Ms Kemei called for the “urgent” prosecution of the perpetrators.

She said she had watched the documentary “in utter shock and disbelief” and condemned the “atrocious act(s) in the strongest terms possible”.

Ms Kemei told parliament, “We must advocate for joint protection of women from such vices that demean them.”

The National Assembly’s deputy speaker Gladys Shollei has reportedly ordered a committee to get to the bottom of the allegations and file a report in a fortnight.

The BBC documentary focused on a Kenyan plantation that was, at the time, owned by UK household goods giant Unilever and another owned by the tea group James Finlay & Co.

The BBC said it spoke with dozens of victims who said they had to give in to managers’ sexual demands or lose their jobs.

One of the assaulted women was reportedly infected with HIV by her supervisor, while others fell pregnant.

One supervisor is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl who was living on-site at one of the plantations.

Secret filming also showed that local bosses had sought to pressure an undercover BBC reporter for sex.

Both companies have reportedly vowed to pursue independent investigations into the report.

Unilever told AFP it was “deeply shocked by the allegations in the BBC programme”.

James Finlay & Co also said it found the allegations “deeply shocking” and had suspended two individuals named in the documentary.

Jane Marriott - Britain’s High Commissioner to Kenya - said on February 22 that she was concerned by the “appalling behaviour” and added that “exploitation has no place in society.”

“I welcome the commitment by the companies to investigate, cooperate with the Kenyan authorities, and take action to protect staff in Kenya,” Ms Marriott said on Twitter.

Kericho governor Erick Mutai said county authorities had already begun investigating the foreign firms to “establish their complicity in this matter”.

According to government figures, Kenya exports an average of more than 500,000 tonnes of tea a year.

In 2022, Unilever reportedly completed the sale of its global tea business - including the brands Lipton and PG Tips - to CVC Capital Partners in a deal worth 4.5 billion euros. It has since been rebranded Lipton Teas and Infusions.

Source: Capital Business

(Quotes via original reporting)