UK Stores Suspend Deal With Kenya Avocado Firm Over Rights Abuses
A majority shareholder in a Kenyan company Kakuzi, has agreed to part with over U.S.$10 million as part of an out-of-court deal with 85 human rights abuse victims that sued it in the UK. UK companies Tesco, Sainsbury's and Lidl subsequently suspended the purchase of avocados from Kakuzi. The three retailers have now said that they are still holding talks with Kakuzi, and are monitoring the situation before reaching any further agreements. The lawsuit filed on behalf of 79 Kenyans at London's High Court, accuses Kakuzi of employing security guards who were responsible for horrific abuses that include killings, rape, attacks and false imprisonment, since 2009.
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Kenya:
UK Retailers Keep Off Kakuzi Avocados Over Human Rights Abuse Claims
Nation, 18 February 2021
A Sh1.196 billion payout by Kakuzi PLC's parent firm is yet to warm the hearts of three UK-based supermarket chains, which last year suspended the purchase of avocados from the… Read more »
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Africa:
UK Company Pays Out U.S.$9.7 Million Over Kenyan Rights Abuses, Malawi Rape
RFI, 15 February 2021
British company Camellia Group has settled a legal claim with a number of Malawian women and Kenyans over allegations of sexual harassment and serious human rights abuses. Camellia… Read more »
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Kenya:
Lawyers to Get Half of Kakuzi Millions
Nation, 15 February 2021
The parent company of Kakuzi, Camellia Plc, has agreed to part with Sh1.196 billion as settlement costs and legal expenses for human rights violations by its Kenyan subsidiary. Read more »
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Kenya:
Kakuzi Sets Up a Human Rights Advisory Committee Amid Claims of Abuse
Capital FM, 3 November 2020
Agriculture firm Kakuzi has now set up an Independent Human Rights Advisory Committee to enhance its operations. Read more »
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Kenya:
Nicholas Nganga Named as Kakuzi Chair
CIO, 2 November 2020
Former Safaricom chairman, Nicholas Nganga has been appointed to chair the Kakuzi board with immediate effect. Nganga has taken over from Graham Mclean who bowed out of the role,… Read more »
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InFocus
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Some companies in contract with farmers across the country are blamed for allegedly putting pressure on farmers to harvest premature fruit in a bid to rake in millions of shillings ... Read more »
(file photo).