Kenyan tea leaf lay offs: multinationals kill jobs while government attacks unions

The TUC has complained to the Kenyan High Commissioner about worrying developments in the Kenyan tea industry.

First, multinational companies introduced tea leaf picking machines that have destroyed a staggering 80,000 jobs.

Second, when unions in the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) protested, members and their families faced arbitrary arrests, torture in police cells, threats and intimidation. 

The multinational companies involved are Unilever Tea Kenya Limited, James Finlay Flowers Limited, Eastern Province, George Williamson, Sotik Tea Company Limited and Sotik Highland.

Owen Tudor