Starbucks has suspended its tea purchase from Kenya’s James Finlay and Company which was part of its agricultural operations.
The suspension follows a ‘sex for work’ expose that aired on BBC that detailed how women are sexually assaulted in tea farms.
According to the expose, more than seventy women have been sexually abused by their supervisors on Kenyan tea farms owned by British companies.
The beverage firm in a statement said that it was "deeply concerned" and that it had taken "immediate action" to suspend buying from James Finlay and Company in Kenya.
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The Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, on Wednesday, directed the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, to investigate the matter.
Further, the DPP said the allegations are contrary to Sections 4, 5, 6, 23(1), and 26 of the Sexual Offences Act, as well as Section 6(1) of the Kenya Employment Act.
The Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) has demanded the two tea firms stop outsourcing labour through contractors with immediate effect.
The union in a statement on Wednesday said outsourcing of labour affects the rights and welfare of workers since they are forced to work at the mercy of contracted companies.
The union instead wants the two firms to offer direct employment to all the contracted employees.
