Alleged Perpetrator of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment Standing for Director of Toror Tea Factory managed by KTDA

ETP has recently learned that John Chebochok, an alleged perpetrator of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, is standing for election as a Director of the Toror Tea Factory (Ainamoi zone) managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).

At ETP, we are committed to creating empowered and safe tea communities. We work towards a tea industry that prioritises the safety and well-being of women and girls, where they are free from gender-based violence, respected, and empowered to report the issues they face without fear or stigmatisation.

All forms of exploitation and violence are unacceptable and can have lifelong impacts on victims. Gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) is not only a major human rights violation and public health concern, but it also undermines autonomy and agency, restricts choices and opportunities, and impacts individuals’ ability to participate equally in society.

The problem goes beyond individual actions; it relates to a system that perpetuates physical and economic exploitation and abuse through its structures and practices. To tackle GBVH, it is essential to establish alternative processes that prioritise the needs of women farmers and workers. ETP has been working with partners to tackle these immense challenges.

ETP has written to the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, KTDA, and the Tea Board of Kenya to express our concern and seek swift and clear action to ensure that apparent perpetrators of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment are not employed in positions where they can continue to facilitate physical and economic exploitation and abuse. We encourage our members to respond to this potential human rights risk by reaching out individually and express their concerns.

Notes

Correction: Please note that the statement previously incorrectly stated that the individual in question was standing for election as a Regional Director for the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA). The individual was in fact standing for election as Director of the Toror Tea Factory (Ainamoi zone) managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).

We have produced a global position paper highlighting the causes of violence and harassment in the tea industry and ETP’s approach to catalysing change, available here.

For more information or interview requests please contact: Brian Lainoff, Head of Communications, ETP, on press@etp-global.org