Kericho High Court suspends the swearing-in of John Chebochok as director of Toror tea factory in the upcoming SGM scheduled for the 18th of July 2024.
Hon Justice K Sergo of the high court ruled due to several civil society organizations’ pending ruling on 15/08/2024 of a case.
ICJ Kenya continues to monitor the progress of the case filed at Kericho High Court barring the swearing in of John Chebochok as director of Tegat Tea Factory due to allegations on sexual violence following an expose by BBC news last year.
The court, has today suspended his… https://t.co/qwSVpDd54p
— ICJ Kenya (@ICJKenya) July 15, 2024
Defiant Mr Chebochok said he will not bow to the pressure from NGOs, community-based organizations and various stakeholders to resign as Toror Tea Factory Zonal Director,
He firmly maintained his decision saying small-scale tea growers duly and legally elected him.
This is after people demanded his resignation from his position and withdrawal from bidding for director of Toror tea factory.
John Chebochok was involved in the tea scandal documentary by BBC titled ‘Sex for Work’ back in February 2023.
After the documentary was aired, Kenya’s parliament ordered an inquiry into the allegations of sexual abuse on tea plantations.
Lawmakers were shocked not to say anything after watching the disclosure.
In the documentary, BBC found more than 70 women had been abused by their managers at plantations.
These plantations were operated for years, by two British companies, Unilever and James Finlay.
The companies said they were shocked by the allegations.
Consequently, four managers including Chebochok were then suspended.
Beatrice Kemei, woman representative in Kericho county said the report highlighted the ‘entrenched’ sexual harassment at ‘tea multinational operating in our country’.
MP Beatrice Elachi said it was unfortunate that such incidents were still taking place.
“Today is a very difficult day for me as a woman, leader and citizen of Kenya. 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,” she was quoted by local media as saying.
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