14 Aug 2024

Fairtrade statement - Nullification of John Chebochok as a Zonal Director for Ainamoi of the Toror/Tegat Tea Factory

Fairtrade applauds the decision of the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development -State Department for Agriculture to nullify the election of Mr. John Chebochok as a Zonal Director for Ainamoi of the Toror/Tegat Tea Factory.

We appreciate the efforts by local activists and organisations – including the Coalition Against Sexual Violence made up 13 Kenyan NGOs – to prevent a person with serious allegations of sexually exploiting women during his employment in the Kenyan tea sector. The allegations were made public in a BBC Panorama documentary in early 2023. We also thank our producer network Fairtrade Africa for its work with stakeholders to raise our concerns.

Fairtrade works with both small-scale tea farmers and workers and is committed to overcoming poverty, tackling inequality and economic hardship, and protecting human rights.