The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Noordin Haji, has ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation and abuse of female employees at tea plantations owned by Unilever and James Finlays firms.
The allegations were exposed in a recent BBC Africa Eye documentary titled “Sex for work: The True Cost of our tea,” which revealed that supervisors and managers of the companies had sexually exploited and abused female employees.
The DPP stated that comprehensive investigations should be conducted into the allegations of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and compelled or indecent acts, which he noted contravene Sections 4, 5, 6, 23(1), and 26 of the sexual offences Act and section 6(1) of the Kenya Employment Act.
The investigation findings will be submitted to the DPP’s office within seven days.
Following the allegations, Finlays suspended the accused managers and reported the BBC allegations to the Kenyan police.
The company has launched independent investigations to fully understand what happened and is cooperating with the police investigation.
