BY SAM ALFAN.
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and Tegat Tea Factory Limited have supported a petition seeking to declare a man at the center of sex scandal unfit to hold public office.
In affidavits filed in court, KTDA and Tea Board of Kenya said they support the case seeking to block John Chebochok, who was recently elected a director for Tegat/Toror Tea Factory, from holding the position.
“Allowing John Chebochok to be approved as a director would be a grave disservice to the company’s shareholders, including the farmers, employees, consumers and investors who rely on the company’s good governance and ethical leadership for their economic well-being,” says KTDA.
KTDA further states that by allowing Chebochok to become a director would contravene standards set out in chapter 6 of the constitution and set a dangerous precedent for the company and the broader tea factory.
KTDA further adds that the election of Chebochok poses a continuous risks to the company’s reputation and its relationships with key shareholders and international buyers.
“The persistent association with the Chebochok may lead to further economic isolation and financial,” says KTDA.
Further, KTDA says Chebochok failure to uphold the principles of leadership and integrity undermines public confidence in the governance structures of the Tegat Tea factory and the larger KTDA network.
The agency said it believes that Chebochok’s actions have demonstrated a lack of integrity and ethical conduct expected of a person holding such a position and his previous conduct of exploiting employees for sexual favours is not consistent with the ethical standards required.
Tegat factory in response acknowledge the serious integrity concerns raised against Chebochok by various actors and stakeholders in the sector.
In response through Dickson Kirui, the factory admit major buyers of their tea including but not limited to Lipton Teas and Infusions ltd, United Kingdom Tea and Infusions Association and James Finley ltd have categorically stated that they will not purchase any tea from the factory in the event Chebochok is appointed as director.
“If the said buyers decline to purchase our tea courtesy of Chebochok’s appointment as a director, the company’s financial status would severely affected thus prejudicing the shareholders,” says Kirui.
He urges court to consider the application by several lobby groups seeking to block Chebochok from being sworn in and declared unfit to hold public office.
However, the factory and KTDA has denied claims that they played any role in clearance and approval Chebochok to contest for election as a director of Tegat Tea Factory.
KTDA in a replying affidavit through company secretary Matthews Odero says both factory and KTDA had no control over the nominations of persons vying for the position of directors, their vetting, the management of any election disputes that arose after the said election.
Last year, Chebochok was caught in a storm following an exposé by the BBC demanding sex from tea pickers, in abuse of his position and authority.
Odero state that pursuant to a mediation settlement agreement in two petitions in Nairobi, the responsibility of overseeing the elections of directors of smallholders tea factory was placed in the hands of the Tea Board of Kenya and pursuant to the said agreement, Tea Board was also required to nominate an independent electoral management body to conduct the said elections.
According to Odero, the responsibility of KTDA and small shareholder factories had in respect of the said election was catering for the cost of conducting elections.
The appointment, therefore suffered procedural infirmity and illegality.
