UK Responds To BBC Expose On Sexual Abuse In Kenyan Tea Farms

The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has joined thousands of netizens and Kenyans across the country in voicing their concerns over the case of sexual harassment within tea farms in the country.

Through the British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott, the UK affirmed that sexual exploitation bears no place in the current society.

Marriott further urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to get to the root cause of the matter and take action against the culprits.

 UK High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott. /FILE

"I am concerned by the allegations of appalling behaviour made in this documentary - sexual abuse and exploitation have 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," tweeted Marriott.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)'s undercover investigative feature under the BBC Africa Eye segment had revealed shocking claims of widespread sexual abuse affecting tea farms in Kenya.

The expose which was published on YouTube on Monday, February 20 centred on farms that supply some of the most popular tea brands in the United Kingdom (UK), some of which have branches in the country, with a sexual exploitation clique of male bosses targeting female workers operating within the firms.

One of the companies, James Finlay, which operates in Kenya on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, moved to take action by firing two contractors who were exposed in the feature.

"We have terminated our agreement with John Chebochok’s company Sislo Holdings. All 300 contractors who were working with us through Sislo have been offered direct employment to ensure their livelihoods are not affected – 98 per cent have accepted," noted the firm in a statement.

"We have also suspended John Asava. Both individuals have been barred from entering James Finlay Kenya."

On the same day, two Members of Parliament (MP) demanded more action to be taken against the perpetrators of the crimes enforced on female tea pickers under a variety of circumstances.

Kericho Women Representative Beatrice Kemei demanded the Committee on Labour to issue statements on several issues, including steps taken by the government to protect the rights of the female workers and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.

“Today I have been reminded that slavery still exists in the country today I stand dejected as this slavery has been going on under our noses as leaders,” complained Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi.

According to Section 6 of the Employment Act, an employee is deemed to have been sexually harassed if the employer, its representative or a co-worker requests any form of sexual favour in order to get preferential treatment at the workplace.

In Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act, a convicted person could be jailed for at least three years, fined Ksh100,000, or both for engaging in sexual harassment.