Del Monte pineapple farm guards allegedly 'beat four people to death'

Del Monte pineapple farm guards in Kenya alleged to ‘have beaten four trespassers to death in spate of brutal assaults’

• Del Monte farm in Kenya supplies tinned pineapple food to top UK supermarkets
• Security allegedly beat trespassers severely, with four unexplained deaths

Security guards wielding wooden bats on a pineapple farm in Kenya are alleged to have savagely beaten suspected trespassers – with four deaths alleged to be linked to the assaults.

Del Monte farm, located in Thika, about 42km northeast of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, is the country’s single largest exporter of produce – including the supply of tinned and fresh pineapples around the world.

Del Monte grows pineapples for some of the UK’s leading supermarkets including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Ocado and Morrisons.

An investigation by The Guardian newspaper and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) has explored claims by villagers of brutal abuse by guards at the plantation, including four unexplained deaths, while a lawsuit alleges rapes and other violent attacks.

Tesco has stated it has suspended orders on all products from Del Monte until an investigation is carried out.

Del Monte pineapple farm ion Kenya supplies pineapples to the UK’s leading supermarkets. Locals claim there have been savage beating carried out by some of the 237 guards employed at the site

Del Monte farm, located in Thika, about 42km northeast of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, is the country’s single largest exporter of produce – including the supply of tinned and fresh pineapples

Mary Kambo, a programme manager at the Kenya Human Rights Commission, said: ‘There has been real misery that is caused by this farm to local community members.

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‘It’s important that someone who is buying these pineapples knows about the allegations of violence connected to the farm.’

The farm is said to cover around 40sq km – an area which is the equivalent of a small city in the east African nation.

Although public roads crisscross through the plantation, it employs 237 guards who are said to carry out their own arbitrary inspections for anyone passing by.

The men are described as being armed with wooden clubs called rungus – which are legal in Kenya to combat the risk of violent robberies. Although many attacks are said to follow attempted thefts, others claim to have been attacked indiscriminately while passing the farm along the road.

Del Monte told the Guardian it takes the claims ‘very seriously’ and has launched a full and urgent investigation.

The newspaper and TBIJ investigated four deaths – three of which are cited in legal action now facing the company.

The first alleged victim, 52-year-old John Rui Karia, died in prison last December after sustaining serious injuries. Another man, Dennis Mutiso, 40, told the Guardian he saw Mr Karia beaten a week earlier and stamped on by Del Monte guards. 

Mr Karia pleaded guilty to stealing pineapples but others claim he was resting by the roadside to sell grass when guards set upon him.  The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights is investigating his death.

Tesco has stated it has suspended orders on all products from Del Monte until an investigation is carried out

A second man, Stephen Thuo Nyoike, 22, died after going to steal pineapples on August 30 last year. 

His body was found in the road alongside Del Monte farm, with his neck cut by a wire, while a postmortem found signs of ‘ligature strangulation’. Two people claim to have seen him being beaten by Del Monte guards.

READ MORE: UK FIRM PAYS £4.6MILLION TO SETTLE 85 CLAIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES INCLUDING RAPE AND MURDER AT KENYAN AVOCADO FARM 

A third death – that of 26-year-old Bernard Murigi Wanginye in 2019 – led to five Del Monte guards being charged with beating him to death after they allegedly caught him stealing pineapples with other young men. All five are in custody awaiting trial, despite a nearly four year wait.

The earliest alleged killing dates back to 2013, when Saidi Ngotho Ndungu, 27, was found in Del Monte’s dam. Two friends claimed they accompanied him on a mission to steal pineapples when they were chased by guards. 

In a statement given to police, one man said the security team began brutally attacking Mr Ndungu with wooden clubs as he begged for his life. Nevertheless, his death certificate gave ‘drowning’ as a cause of death.

Law firm Leigh Day has written to Del Monte, seeking compensation for ‘serious human rights abuses’ from 134 villagers living nearby. 

Besides claims for five deaths – including those of Karia, Nyoike and Wanginye – the letter describes five rapes, as well as serious injuries including head wounds, broken bones and cuts requiring stitches incurred since 2013.

Leigh Day partner Richard Meeran said: ‘Our clients’ allegations of human rights abuses perpetrated by Del Monte’s security guards in Kenya entail a level and pattern of violence, brutality and humiliation that is widespread and gut-wrenching. It is right that these allegations, and Del Monte’s responsibility for them, are tested in court.’

A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘We are shocked and appalled to learn of these allegations on Del Monte’s Thika farm in Kenya. We have therefore taken the decision to immediately suspend Del Monte fruit products sourced from this farm pending a thorough and credible investigation into these claims.

‘Any form of human rights abuse is clearly unacceptable and we expect our suppliers to protect the welfare of everyone working in our supply chains, as well as respecting the human rights of the communities in which they operate.’

Waitrose told media it trusts its suppliers to adhere to strict ethical standards and it is ‘liaising closely’ with Del Monte to understand the situation. The firm said it welcomed the company’s commissioning of an independent review.

A spokesperson for Fresh Del Monte said: ‘We take these allegations extremely seriously and have instituted a full and urgent investigation into them. The conduct alleged in these cases is in clear violation of Fresh Del Monte’s longstanding commitment to human rights and the comprehensive policies and procedures we have in place to ensure our operations respect the dignity of all individuals.

‘Our proactive investigations continue and will be supported by an independent review by a specialist human rights consultancy. We continue to fully support the Kenyan authorities’ investigations, including into the death of John Rui Karia. We are committed to constant improvements in the way we operate to adhere to the highest international human rights standards in all our businesses.’

Sophie de Salis, sustainability policy adviser at the British Retail Consortium, which represents UK supermarkets, said: ‘We welcome Del Monte’s investigation into these appalling allegations to delve deeper into the broader context of these crimes and commitment to constant improvements in working practices. 

‘Protecting the welfare of workers and respecting communities in supply chains is fundamental to our members’ sourcing practices and any practices falling short of our high standards are not tolerated.’

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