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{
    "id": 1233681,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1233681/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 170,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "1. The witness who had been requested by the Labour Office to speak in camera to the Committee on the allegations declined and referred us to her lawyer. 2. The nature of the allegations made it difficult to receive witnesses’ information, including from the shop stewards and the union. This is due to the stigmatisation that comes with reporting sexual related offences. The issues for determination are as per the terms of reference of the inquiry as set by the Committee. Based on evidence on record, which is from testimonies from witnesses and stakeholders, the Committee analysed the testimonies and determined the issues as follows: To establish if there is concrete information on the allegations of sexual harassment of female workers in the various tea estates in Kericho County. From their submissions, the county security team had yet to interrogate the BBC Eye Africa reporter who made the expose. The county security team reported that they had communicated with the DCI Headquarters Forensic Laboratory to obtain the full information of the reporter to facilitate his interrogation. The Committee expressed its dissatisfaction with the slow pace this was taking. The victims of sexual harassment cases were not reporting the abuse and the two tea companies reported that they did not have knowledge of the extent of the violations until the expose by BBC Africa Eye was aired. At the time of the visit by the Committee, there were no incidences of reports on the allegations of sexual harassment by the police on the four alleged perpetrators, namely Mr. Jeremiah Koskei and Mr. Samuel Yebei who worked for Ekaterra Teas and Infusions; Mr. John Chebochok and Mr. John Asava who worked at James Finlay Kenya. Hon. Temporary Speaker, James Finlay Kenya terminated the contract agreement with John Chebochok’s Company, Sislo Holdings. They have also suspended Mr. John Asava. The Company has barred Mr. John Chebochok and Mr. John Asava from getting into James Finlay Kenya premises. Ekaterra Tea and Infusions reported that they had suspended Mr. Jeremiah Koskei and Mr. Samuel Yebei, and barred the two named persons from accessing Ekaterra Tea and Infusion premises. This was done to prevent them from interfering with the investigations. This is evidence on record that Ms. Sylvia Ten Den, Head of Africa Tea Plantations – Ekaterra, acknowledged that incidences of sexual harassment were happening in the Ekaterra Lipton Teas and Infusions Tea Estates. However, since taking up the position in 2019, she has put measures in place and created awareness to mitigate the incidences. The company is working towards a zero per cent rate of gender-based violence in the tea estates. Further, the company does not outsource labour except for security services. The shop stewards at Ekaterra Teas and Infusions distinguished between incidences of unwelcome sexual harassment and incidences of sex for work, where the sex for work was sought for opportunities for employment, promotions, lighter duties and being graded thus increase in pay. However, no written submissions were presented on the specific incidences or names of persons affected. The Committee observed that although there are sexual harassment policies, trainings, and reporting channels available, reporting was minimum, which makes it difficult to address the incidences. From the foregoing, the Committee finds that there is credible evidence on record that there is sexual harassment in some tea estates in Kericho County, and that though there are sexual harassment policies, trainings and reporting channels available, reporting was very minimal. On the issue to establish measures that the Government is putting in place to protect the rights of workers in these tea estates, the Committee noted that there is a Gender Office within the grounds of Kericho Police Station, whose independence was in question, having been funded by The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}