After decades of tag of war between Kakuzi Limited and the neighbours fresh allegations of human right injustices have come up.
Through Kenya Human Rights Commission (KNHC), the residents in 13 villages and including former employees of the multi-national company claimed their rights have been violated and wish to get justice from a London Court of Justice.
A leading Tesco chain of supermarket in UK suspended buying avocado from the company following the claims of violation of human rights.
Closure of the lucrative export market has affected thousands of avocado farmers in Mt Kenya and Eastern region who had been contracted by the leading producer.
A gathering at Kinyangi village, Gatanga, Murang’a, 60 people launched claims of battering by the firm’s security guards, with former employees saying they were sacked for agitating for better working conditions.
A victim, Kennedy Musyoka recounted how he was clobbered by security guards around Kirima areas, when they found him looking for grass to feed his livestock.
The 29 year old narrated how the guards pulled him in the farm and brutally clobbered him before they used a machete and cut his left hand.
“ I was taken for treatment in Murang’a Level Five before I was transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment,” recounted Musyoka.
A woman (name withheld) recounted how her 14 year old daughter was in September raped when she was fetching firewood.
“My daughter is expectant and contracted HIV,” said the woman as she shed tears.
The allegations that have been rubbished by the firm, the villagers led by human right crusader Mr Swaleh Githinji said they have lived in poverty for decades due to lack of access to roads and natural resources.
“This people have suffered all along as the government despite promised to look into their concerns nothing has changed. Instead their status has deteriorated day by day,” he said.
Leigh Day lawyers are presenting 79 residents in a London court on claims of human rights abuse
He added that failure to get justice in Kenyan due to gross interference by unknown forces the villagers approached the human right organisation after they plight was highlighted by the local media.
At Kinyangi, the villagers whose rights have been abused highlighted their plight saying they have been victims of rape, attempted rape, sacking by the firm among others.
KHRC Deputy Director Davis Malombe on his part said issues surrounding historic land injustice were being handled by the National Lands Commission (NLC), while those of criminal nature handled by lawyers.
“As an organisation our main duty is to protect the interests of the people from oppression, and in this case we are pursuing justice for the victims in the 13 villages,” said Malombe.
Kakuzi Limited through its Corporate Manager Wilson Odiyo said it was not aware of the issues raised as they have not been reported.
The company, he said has vibrant dispute resolution mechanism, which has helped to nurture good neighbourhood. The neighbourhood aspect has helped to resolve many of the disputes.
“We have an open door policy where the aggrieved persons are free to walk in and make a report,” said Odiyo.
The manager added that the former employees were sacked after they involved themselves in unprotected industrial action.
Our news lines are
Mobile Phone (SMS)0719-889-925
ceo@themountainjournal.co.ke
info@themountainjournal.co.ke
themountainjournal@gmail.com
www.themountainjournal.co.ke
Yes i was born in 1968 at kakuzi hills,my family had been evicted from a place called misuuni currently inside kakuzi LTD i went to school at kinyangi pri also inside kakuzi there were several villages surrounding kinyangi pri some of the people were given land at ngatho phase 1&2 those who were not lucky still languish in poverty at kinyangi,those who ran to the hills were landlocked uptodate.my grandmother was bitten by a snake fetching firewood in 1998 she died before we could find any help .having a car is a nightmare you have to look for a pass with conditions we live in poverty poverty.