Kakuzi Limited

Kakuzi PLC is a Kenyan agricultural cultivation and manufacture company.[2] Its products include tea, avocados (of which it has been Kenya's largest exporter),[3] pineapples,[4] and livestock. The company also carries out forestry operations.[5] Its subsidiaries include Estates Services Limited. Kakuzi's majority shareholder is the British company Camellia Plc.[6][7]

Kakuzi PLC [1]
TypePublic
KN: KUKZ
IndustryAgricultural
Headquarters
Nairobi
,
Kenya
ProductsTea, Livestock, Avocados, Forestry Products, Blueberries
Websitewww.kakuzi.co.ke

Officers and directors[8]

Chairman of the Board: G.H. Mclean; Secretary: J. L.G. Maonga; Managing Director:C. Flowers; Directors: K. R. Shah; S. Waruhiu; D. Ndonye; N. Nganga; A. N. Njoroge; K.W. Tarplee

Protests from local community on land and human rights abuse

In 2017, a group of Kenyans petitioned Kenya's National Land Commission with a  claim that they were forcefully evicted from the present day Kakuzi land by colonialists who burnt their houses, confiscated their animals and left them destitute[9][10] More local community groups have since joined the petition in laying claim to the NSE-listed agricultural firm’s land.[11][12]

In February 2019, avocado farmers in Murang'a county, where Kakuzi has a farm and operations threatened to take court action against Kakuzi over avocados supply deal, accusing the company of breaching their contract and not paying them in full.[13]

In October 2020, the law firm Leigh Day said it had initiated legal action against UK firm Camellia, the parent owner of Kakuzi, on behalf of 79 Kenyans who accuse Kakuzi's security guards of perpetrating horrific abuses since 2009 including killings, rape, attacks and false imprisonment.[14][15][16][17][18]

Following these allegations, UK's supermarket chain Tesco announced that it had suspended avocado supply from Kakuzi Kenya due to the abuse claims.[19][20][21]

Two more large European supermarket chains, Sainsbury’s and Lidl, later confirmed that they had suspended supplies by Kakuzi.[22][23]

References
  1. https://www.kakuzi.co.ke/
  2. "Kenya's Kakuzi posts H1 profit on good tea prices". Reuters. 26 August 2009.
  3. van Hoof, Lian (27 August 2007). "Kakuzi is the largest avocado exporter in Kenya".
  4. Were, Emmanuel (12 March 2008). "Kenya: Kakuzi Records Profit Despite Strong Shilling". Business Daily (Nairobi).
  5. Were, Emmanuel (13 July 2009). "Kakuzi sees rally in share price as tea value rises". Business Daily.
  6. Gikunju, Washington (5 November 2007). "Kenya: Kibaki Tips Scales for Kakuzi Directors in Spat Over Tea Farm". Business Daily (Nairobi).
  7. GoogleFinance
  8. https://www.kakuzi.co.ke/about-us/Management
  9. "Kakuzi fights off locals' claim on its prime land". Nation. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  10. "Kakuzi fights off locals' claim on its prime land". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  11. Monday; October 29; 2018 20:38. "Six new groups lay claim on Kakuzi land". Business Daily. Retrieved 2019-02-13.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. "Kakuzi land case adjourned to December 6 – Kenya News Agency". Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  13. "Avocado farmers accuse Kakuzi of not paying". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  14. https://www.the-star.co.ke/authors/andrewkasuku. "Victims of Kakuzi rights abuses speak of assault, rape". The Star. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  15. Muthoni, Kamau. "Kakuzi parent company sued for abuses and deaths". The Standard. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  16. May 18, 2020, Monday. "Kakuzi parent company faces claims in UK for Africa abuses". Business Daily. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  17. "Kenyan fresh food supplier Kakuzi suspended by Tesco following abuse claims". www.just-food.com. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  18. Presse, Agence France (2020-10-12). "UK's Tesco Supermarket Chain Suspends Avocados From Kakuzi Over Rights Concerns » Capital News". Capital News. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  19. "UK's Tesco suspends avocado supply from Kakuzi Kenya over abuse claims". The East African. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  20. Presse, Agence France (2020-10-12). "UK's Tesco Supermarket Chain Suspends Avocados From Kakuzi Over Rights Concerns » Capital News". Capital News. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  21. "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13. Cite uses generic title (help)
  22. October 20, 2020, Tuesday. "Pressure on Kakuzi as more European firms cut orders". Business Daily. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  23. Muthoni, Kamau. "Another UK outlet suspends selling avocados from Kakuzi". The Standard. Retrieved 2020-10-20.


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