The veracity of the alleged sex exploitation of casual labourers at Kericho tea plantations owned by James Finlay and Company, the successor of Unilever, Ekaterra and Lipton that sparked serious global outrage has seen beverage firm Starbucks impose an indefinite ban on purchasing tea from James Finlay following the exposé by BBC.
Similarly, Lipton Teas and Infusions Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nathalie Roos told The Informer Media Group they have since suspended the managers at the center of the allegations.
“We were shocked and dismayed by the allegations made to the BBC. We immediately suspended the managers at the center of the allegations and launched a full independent investigation. We will take the most stringent action if this inquiry, which is still ongoing, finds any evidence of wrongdoings.” Ross said.
On the other hand, Starbucks, an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington has since stopped purchasing tea from Kenya’s James Finlay and Company which was part of agricultural operations that has been engulfed in a sex scandal exposed by BBC News.
“These horrific allegations have no place in our supply chain,” Sainsbury’s was quoted in the BBC News article.
In the wake of the scandal, Starbucks issued a statement saying it was “deeply concerned” and that it had taken “immediate action” to suspend buying from James Finlay and Company in Kenya.
James Finlay is the successor of Unilever in the tea plantation.
UK retail chain Sainsbury’s also indicated it could stop buying tea from the local producers.
Kenyan institutions including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Parliament and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection have already initiated parallel investigations into the grave claims of sexual abuse of Kenyan women workers by their supervisors.
“As a woman and a new CEO of the tea market leader, I am taking a determined approach to making a meaningful difference for people across the industry, including women’s safety, which is particularly close to my heart.” Ross added.
So far, the four managers implicated in the sexual abuse scam have neither been summoned by the Kericho DCI officers nor have the victims recorded statements a week after the expose.
The scandal follows a similar one at Kakuzi which saw UK supermarkets including Tesco and Lidl suspend the purchase of avocados from the agricultural firm in 2020.
The boycotts come amid a high emphasis on ethical supply chains.
