Kakuzi firm assault victims cry foul, ask Murang’a county to release probe findings

Victims of alleged human rights violation by Kakuzi company want the County Assembly of Murang’a to make public its findings on the investigations it was doing.

The Assembly, through the lands and environment committee between November 2020 to January 2021, launched an enquiry into alleged assault against the workers and residents living near the company but its yet to submit its findings.

The victims said this will help them in proving right their claims on abuse and assault by the company over the years.

This follows the move by the company to move to court to seek a legal redress claiming that it has been denied fair hearing in the cases leveled against it.

Kakuzi claims that Kenya Human Rights Commission and Ndula Resource Center who have been fighting for the justice of the victims have not given a chance to defend itself.

Further, the company claimed that the accusations made against it have ruined its reputation demanding a apology from the two parties.

The victims who had assembled at Kinyangi primary school in lower Gatanga said the company has been fighting to hard to cover up the incidents so as to deny them justice.

They said the report by the assembly will bring to light what has been happening to them.

Robert Thuku is one of the latest victims to be dismissed from work after he lost his eyesight while on duty.

Thuku said harmful chemicals accidentally got into his eyes leading to loss of his sight late last year.

He said the company failed to cater for his medical bill as it had promised and sacked him without giving him his due pay.

“The manager had promised that the company would cater for the bill but this did not happen,” he said.

The father of five said he sold his livestock to cater for his treatment and he has no alternative means to fend for his family.

Pius Muthungu another victim said their houses were burned and livestock taken away years back and they have never gotten justice for this

He said their entire livelihood was ruined as the land belonged to their foreparents was grabbed.

“This land belonged to our parents but we’re chased out as the company sought to expand its territory and we have been living as squatters” he said.

The victims said they have pegged their hope in the judiciary for them to get justice.