MPs Tour Kericho Tea Farms, Grill Bosses After BBC Exposé

A collage of employees at a tea farm in Kenya (left) and the poster for the investigative documentary by BBC Africa Eye, titled “Sex for Work The True Cost of Our Tea.” (left)
A collage of employees at a tea farm in Kenya (left) and the poster for the investigative documentary by BBC Africa Eye, titled “Sex for Work The True Cost of Our Tea.” (left)
Photo
BBC Africa

Members of Parliament sprang into action following the viral exposé by BBC News Africa on the sexual harassment of female employees in two Kenyan tea farms. 

On Friday, March 3, the MPs in the National Assembly Committee on Labour travelled to Kericho County to investigate the allegations.

According to Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi, the committee chairperson, the team liaised with the county security officers for comprehensive information.

"We held a closed-door engagement with county security officers who provided us with critical information," Eric Muchangi stated.

Members of the 13th Parliament during President William Ruto's inaugural speech on September 29, 2022..jpg
Members of the 13th Parliament during President William Ruto's inaugural speech on September 29, 2022.
Photo
The National Assembly

The committee believed interaction with the security officials was crucial as they had begun investigations in the county.

"We decided to meet the security officers as their findings are critical to us," Muchangi stated.

While in the county, the committee grilled bosses in one of the two accused farms for several hours, attempting to ascertain the gravity of the case. 

The probe began after Kericho Women Representative Beatrice Kemei sought a statement from the Departmental Committee on Labour.

"Desperate workers were subjected to heinous acts by managers with less or no action from the government and the administration of the companies in question," she lamented.

On Wednesday 22, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji ordered Inspector General Japhet Koome to probe the allegations.

"The resultant investigation file should be submitted to the office within seven days," the DPP wrote to police boss Koome.

Four managers from the two tea farms went into hiding, avoiding to record statements with the police.

Tea farmers in the field
Tea farmers in the field
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