Murang’a County Assembly has established a committee to investigate the reasons behind the rejection of Kakuzi
limited avocado by supermarkets in UK.
The committee
members are drawn from committees on agriculture, governance, labour, justice
and legal.
County Assembly
Speaker Nduati Kariuki said the suspension of the foreign market will impact
negatively on over 3,500 farmers in Murang’a contracted by a multinational
company.
Nduati the
suspension by some supermarkets will affect hundreds of families, who have
invested in avocado farming.
Tesco
supermarket in UK suspended buying the avocados from Kakuzi Limited, after Leigh
Day Advocates sued Kakuzi in a UK High Court on allegations of violation of
human rights by security guards since 2009.
The law
firm is acting on behalf of 79 victims who included former employees and
neighbours.
Speaking to The
Mountain Journal, he said the committee will investigate criminal action and
violation of human rights by the company employees and the management.
“The findings
of the committee will duly be communicated to assist in resolving the
matter between the company and its importer,” he said.
He added
that the efforts by the committee in addition to any other findings
from any other investigating authority.
Murang’a
county, he said will work to protect the economy by assuring all the importers
of the seriousness in upholding employment ethics and human rights.
“We
believe a report from the assembly will give comfort to the importers,” said
the speaker.
According to
records at Agriculture Food Authority (AFA )Murang’a county is the largest
producer of the avocado in Kenya.
“In the past four years more than
1.5 million avocado seedlings have been planted in the county thus need to
ensure the differences behind the suspension are resolved amicably,” said Charles
Kahoro Kangari MCA.
Kahoro also chairs assembly agriculture committee.
Kakuzi buys fruits from out-growers in
the counties Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Kiambu which are
branded and exported after grading to international standard.
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