Murang’a team to pursue Kakuzi, community cohesion

Murang’a county security team has formed a committee to enhance harmony between the fruits processor Kakuzi and the community.

The committee will also spearhead the process of acquiring title deeds by primary schools that are within the company’s land.

Speaking on Tuesday during the donation of desks by Kakuzi to Gatitu and Gathungururu secondary school, county commissioner Mohamed Barre said once the title deeds are processed, there will be reduced conflicts.

This comes months after the company was suspended by major retail outlets in the United Kingdom over allegations of human rights violations.

This happened after Leigh Day law firm announced that it had initiated legal action against Kakuzi’s parent company, Camellia.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 79 Kenyans including Kakuzi employees at London's High Court and accused the company’s security guards of perpetrating the crimes since 2009, including killings, rape, attacks and false imprisonment.

Kakuzi, however, said it is a responsible corporate citizen who strives to live up to its values and commitments and apologised for the atrocities reported by the community.

Barre said the firm’s contributions to the local economy are immense but highlighted the need for its issues with locals to be solved.

He said over 4,498 people have been employed by the company that also works with 1,300 out growers who sell their fruits to the company and earn a living.

“Those who are trying to bring down the company, where will they take all these people who depend on it?” Barre asked.

The commissioner cited the many schools established within the company’s land and which the firm supports.

The firm also donated 100 acres of land for the establishment of Murang’a Teachers Training College that has been instrumental in the education sector.

Among other donations made by the firm were, 275 desks and 3,600 packets of sanitary towels to nearby schools, 28 handwashing points in neighbouring towns replenished with 14,000 litres of water and soap daily, three ICU beds, six patient monitors, six syringe pumps, 10,000 surgeon caps and 10 modern mist blowers to sanitize towns.

The firm’s assistant general manager for corporate affairs Wilson Odiyo said the firm is ready to address the grievances reported by the members of the community.

In October last year, some locals narrated horrific accounts of harassment by the guards and wanted to be enjoined in the case against the firm’s parent company in London high court.

Some said they had been maimed and forced to be dependent on their families while others decried sexual harassment.

 

 

Edited by Kiilu Damaris