Lipton Tea farm involved in sexual abuse claims from 70 Kenyan women

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An undercover investigation by the BBC revealed sexual abuse claims were raging among two British tea manufacturers who owned tea plantations in Kenya - amounting to claims from more than 70 women.

"More than 70 women on Kenyan tea farms, owned for years by two British companies, told the BBC they had been sexually abused by their supervisors," the BBC said on its website, in a report that centered on a tea farm run by UK household goods giant Unilever, and another farm owned by the tea group James Finlay & Co.  

According to statements by victims involved in the abuse claims, it was either giving in to the sexual advances of their supervisors or risking the loss of their jobs. One victim says she was infected with HIV by her manager. Further proof was shown through secretly filmed footage of bosses attempting to pressure an undercover BBC reporter for sex.  

In response, Unilever expressed to AFP that it was "deeply shocked by the allegations in the BBC program", adding that it "worked hard for many years to address the very serious issues of sexual and gender-based violence against women in the tea industry. This included improving the gender balance of team leaders, upgrading the grievance handling process, and strengthening awareness-raising and training."  

Unilever continued that it was "very disappointed that the measures put in place to make it easier to report, detect and investigate abuse failed to detect and address the issues highlighted by the BBC".  

'Endemic issue with sexual violence'

Chief executive of Lipton Teas and Infusions, Nathalie Roos, stated on behalf of the company that it was "shocked and dismayed" by the claims, and announced intentions to fire "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 wrongdoing", she said to AFP.   

Read more: No justice for Kenyan women raped by British soldiers

"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," Roos concluded. 

James Finlay & Co, however, did not comment when reached out to regarding the investigation. 

According to the BBC, James Finlay said it had suspended one manager and was investigating whether its Kenya operation faced "an endemic issue with sexual violence".  

Unilever last year completed the sale of its global tea business, including the brands Lipton and PG Tips, to CVC Capital Partners in a deal worth 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion). It has since been rebranded Lipton Teas and Infusions.