Murang’a county assembly has formed a 14 member committee to investigate the alleged abuse of human rights by residents by Kakuzi Limited guards.
The members of the committee held their first meeting chaired by Speaker Nduati Kariuki with a mandate to conclude investigations in 21 days.
He said if the allegations will be true, the assembly will recommend measures to be taken against the perpetrators.
“At this moment there are just allegations, the assembly would like to get to the depth of this matter and find out the truth,” said the speaker.
The victims, he said are free to hold sessions with the committee and give their claims for investigations.
” This is the first time in the history of Murang’aa committee has been formed to conduct investigations on alleged human rights abuse,” said the speaker
The report of the committee and any other from the other agencies will be shared with various importers in the UK.
Tesco supermarket suspended the contract with Kakuzi after a UK Day and Leigh advocates sued the firm over alleged human rights abuse on 79 Kenyan clients.
The 79 victims include former employees used human rights organisations to proceed to the UK justice system.
The mandate of the committee will be interviewing persons of interests, compare notes with other agencies that could have conducted investigations into the matter.
Also, the committee will give recommendations on action to be taken against those who will be found guilty.
The move to conduct investigations comes three weeks after two leading supermarkets in UK suspended importing avocado from Kakuzi limited.
Nduati said the action by the supermarket will affect the economy of Murang’a people, whose majority are contracted out-growers by Kakuzi limited.
“Let me assure the local and international players that the products from farms in Murang’a are produced in the internationally accepted standards and under ethical conditions.
Notable members of the committee are Kimorori MCA Amos Murigi, Stanley Mburu (Makuyu) and Jecinta Ng’ang’a ( Murang’a Town).
Residents neighbouring the farm that spread in Maragua constituency have been at war with Kakuzi calling for the re-opening of public access roads that pass through the farm.
Those wishing to visit the neighbour using motor vehicles it is mandatory to seek for gate passes, to use the roads.
Two years ago, two Murang’a based journalists Mburu Gaita and Julius Kareithi were roughed up by guards, during a demonstration by Gititu secondary school students who protested over repossessing part of their school land to plant macadamia trees.
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