The National Assembly Committee on Labour has launched an investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment of workers in tea firms captured in the BBC exposé.
The Committee led by Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi began the probe on Friday.
It met with security officers from Kericho County, who briefed them on their findings on the matter.
“We held a closed-door engagement with county security officers who provided us with very critical information,” he said.
He said they met with the officers because they had already started their investigations and the committee needed to know their findings.
The Committee visited one of the tea firms where they interrogated the top management over the allegations.
“We have started well with our investigations and I believe at the end of our facts-finding visit here we will have gathered vital information that will help us in report writing,” Muchangi said.
The committee is planning on meeting with the staff of the other tea firm to gather more information on its management.
The probe was launched after the issue was raised in Parliament by Kericho Women Representative Beatrice Kemei.
On February 21, Kemei requested for a statement from the chairperson Labour Committee on the alleged sexual harassment of female workers in various tea estates in the county.
The Speaker then directed the Committee to investigate the allegations and present their report to the House.
This followed an exposé by BBC Africa of how women in tea firms were sexually assaulted.
The committee members include vice chairperson Muli Kyule (Kangundo MP), Richard Chonga (Kilifi South MP), Barasa Patrick (Cherangany MP), Chiforomodo Mangale (Lunga Lunga MP), Peter Kihungi (Kangema MP), Leah Sankaire (Kajiado Woman Rep) and Lillian Siyoi Chebet (Trans Nzoia Woman Rep).
Kemei and Senator Gloria Orwoba accompanied the committee as interested parties.
It was earlier reported that, Kenyan legislators have formed a committee to look into the allegations of sexual abuse of female workers at tea plantations owned by two UK firms as alleged in a BBC exposé last Monday.
National Assembly Deputy speaker Gladys Shollei said the committee will investigate the allegations and report back within two weeks.
Several female legislators have as well condemned the actions of the perpetrators and called for quick action following the exposé.
“Today I’ve been reminded that slavery still exists in this nation. I cannot explain how a man has violated women in tea plantations for 30 years and nothing has been done,” said lawmaker Beatrice Elachi.
Beatrice Kemei, the woman representative for tea-growing Kericho County, said the investigative report has showed the “entrenched sexual harassment in the [multinational tea farms] operating in our country.”
Appalling behavior “I am concerned by the allegations of appalling behaviour made in this documentary — sexual abuse and exploitation has no place in society,” the UK High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Mariott said
The BBC Eye documentary revealed widespread sexual abuse of women by senior managers in exchange for work opportunities at two tea estates owned by UK firms James Finlay & Company and Unilever — which has since sold its brands to CVC Capital Partners.
Some of the women interviewed in the report said they were impregnated and infected with HIV by the perpetrators, yet no action was taken on their reports despite the companies having a “zero-tolerance” policy on sexual abuse.
The two companies said they are investigating the allegations and have immediately suspended those implicated in the acts.
Suspended purchases Supermarket chains Tesco and Sainsbury’s – which have been buying from these estates – have also condemned the actions.
Coffeehouse chain Starbucks issued a statement on Monday saying it had immediately suspended purchasing from James Finlay & Co in Kenya.
“I welcome the commitment by the companies to investigate, cooperate with the Kenyan authorities, and take action to protect staff in Kenya,” Ms Mariott said.
But despite the steps already taken by the implicated companies and their top customers, the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) has demanded that they pay damages for physical and emotional health to the affected individuals.
In a statement on Wednesday, the unionists also demanded that the government “moves with speed” to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in workplaces to prevent such abuse from recurring in workplaces.
