By Andrew Walyaula
waliaulaandrew0@gmail.com
Coalition of Organizations on Sexual Violence in Kenya (COVAW) now demands Kenya’s James Finlay and Company which was part of agricultural operations that has been engulfed in a sex scandal exposed by BBC News to provide medical attention to the survivors and those at risk.
“That the institution implicated in the documentary immediately and at their own cost provide the survivors and those at risk to immediate independent medical, psychosocial and legal aid services,” COVAW said in a statement.
Over 70 women working at farms operated by James Finlay and Lipton Teas and Infusions (the successor of Unilever) said their supervisors had sexually abused them.
COVAW says observes that sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace have far-reaching effects which range from mental and physical health problems including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), HIV/AIDS, Sexually transmitted diseases, and other stress-related illnesses.
According to the organization, the victims may also experience a loss of self-esteem and confidence, which can negatively affect all areas of their lives.
The indecent act is also considered to have a broader societal impact.
“These incidents continue to perpetuate gender inequality and reinforce harmful social norms and attitudes towards women which serve to ensure that women are suppressed socially and economically.”
In Kenya, The Employment Act (2007) prohibits discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace, and the Sexual Offences Act (2006) criminalizes sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence.
COVAW also demands that the victims be compensated.
The organization further demands that the institutions implicated immediately establish internal mechanisms to identify perpetrators and forward all names to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
“That the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions makes public the findings of the Inspector General report and pursues to the full extent of the law as well as build systems for strong evidence collection for this and other similar cases as a way to protect Kenyan women.”
The DPP had ordered IG to initiate an investigation.
