The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has directed Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to commence thorough investigations into the allegations of sexual abuse in the Kericho tea plantations owned by Unilever and James Finlay & Co, as reported by the BBC Africa Eye.
Through a statement dated 22 February,2023, the DPP asked the IG to present the investigation file to the Office within seven days.
The DPP added that the allegations against the suspects 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.
“Accordingly, pursuant to Article 157 (4) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, you are hereby directed to undertake comprehensive investigations into the allegations of rape, sexual assault, compelled or indecent acts, sexual harassment and deliberate transmission of HIV or any other life threatening sexually transmitted disease, as highlighted by the BBC Africa Eye.”
“The resultant investigation file should be submitted to the office within 7days of the date hereof.” Read the statement.
This directive has come after the international media had exposed high profiled individuals in the reported tea farms as sexual harassment perpetrators.
