Tag: Kakuzi Limited

Kakuzi taps into expertise of PR guru Gina Din-Kariuki to be member of its Human Rights Committee

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KENYA – Kenyan integrated agri-business firm, Kakuzi Plc, has named Mrs Gina Din-Kariuki, a respected and leading businesswoman, philanthropist and champion of Women’s rights, as a member of its newly formed Independent Human Rights Advisory Committee (IHRAC). The appointment of Mrs Din-Kariuki to the IHRAC marks the finalizing of the constitution of the IHRAC committee chaired by former Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai. “The Board of Kakuzi Plc is pleased to announce the entry of Mrs Din-Kariuki to the Independent Human Rights Advisory Committee. “Her entry, following an in-depth selection…

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Kakuzi becomes first African company to adopt UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

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KENYA – Kenyan fresh food producer and exporter, Kakuzi Plc, becomes the first corporate organization in Sub Sahara Africa to constitute and establish the Independent Human Rights Advisory Committee (IHRAC) benchmarked against the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In a trendsetting move, the integrated agri-business firm joins a growing list of globally focused institutions’ progressively adopting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, such as Global Chemicals manufacturer BASF SE. The company has appointed Kenya’s former Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai to be the…

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Kakuzi Plc to strengthen business with earmarked US$3.7m capital injection

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KENYA – Kenyan integrated agri-business firm, Kakuzi Plc, has announced that it will invest more than Ksh400 million (US$3.7m) in capital expenditures (CAPEX) this year, to expand production and upscale its smallholder operations value, in a bid to boost the global positioning of Kenyan avocados. Other than boosting production and market for its core crop avocado, the fresh food producer and exporter has indicated it will continue to invest in diversification projects for its macadamia, livestock, commercial forestry business lines and experimenting with the new blueberry venture. This was revealed…

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Kakuzi to resume avocado export to Europe after a short hiatus

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KENYA – Kenyan fresh food producer and exporter, Kakuzi Plc, has won back the trust and business partnership of European based supermarkets, with its parent company Camellia revealing that they will soon resume avocado exports to the lucrative market. Supermarket chains Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Lidl suspended Kakuzi dealership in October following claims of human rights abuse to its workers, which were citied on Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper. “The serious human rights claims the group faced relating to its operations in Kenya led to a number of European supermarket chains suspending…

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Kakuzi’s parent company issues US$6.3m worth of settlements following alleged human rights abuse

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KENYA – The Brirtish owner of the vast Kenyan plantation company, Kakuzi Limited has undertaken financial compensation to the 85 victims of alleged rape and violence perpetrated by Kakuzi’s employees. According to the parent company Camellia Plc, it has paid £4.6m (US$6.3m) in relation to the Kenyan case, alongside £2.3m (US$3.1m) issued to similar allegations brought against its Malawian subsidiary, Eastern Produce Malawi (EPM). The settlements in Kenya follows a lawsuit filed on behalf of the victims at London’s High Court by law firm Leigh Day, accusing Camellia Plc for…

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Kakuzi Plc appoints new Chair, gives Board seat to its 2nd largest stakeholder in governance changes

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KENYA – Kenyan fresh food producer and exporter Kakuzi Plc has named Nicholas Ng’ang’a as Chairman of the Board with immediate effect. Ng’ang’a has been elevated to the position replacing Graham Mclean, Managing Director for Agriculture at Camellia Plc and former CEO of the Kenya food firm. According to the company Graham Mclean steps down from the role but will remain a non-executive Director. Ng’ang’a served as chairman of giant telecommunication company Safaricom’s board from 2007 until his retirement in July this year. He is the current chairman of Car…

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Lidl joins Tesco Supermarkets to cut ties with Kenyan avocado supplier Kakuzi

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KENYA – A second supermarket chain in the United Kingdom, Lidl has suspended avocado supplies from Kakuzi Limited, Kenyan vast plantation company, days after Tesco supermarket did the same. The grocery and food retailer has suspended Kakuzi dealership over claims of human rights abuse to its workers, which were citied by Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper. According to the report, a UK law firm Leigh Day, which is representing scores of alleged victims of rape and violence perpetrated by Kakuzi’s employees, has filed a lawsuit accusing Camellia Plc for turning a…

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Kakuzi’s parent company sued by UK firm for alleged human rights abuse

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KENYA – The Brirtish owner of the vast Kenyan plantation company, Kakuzi Limited has been sued in the UK by law firm Leigh Day, which is representing scores of alleged victims of rape and violence perpetrated by Kakuzi’s employees. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 79 Kenyans at London’s High Court, accuses Camellia Plc for turning a blind eye to systematic human rights abuse by its subsidiary’s employees for a period of 11 years since 2009, according to Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper. “The attacks are said to have been part…

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Kenyan agricultural company drops pineapples for avocados due to global demand

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KENYA – Kakuzi Limited, Kenyan agricultural cultivation and manufacture company has announced that it was stopping to grow pineapples this year in favour of avocado business, which the company said helped push profits for the year ended December. The company revealed the shift in plans when announcing its 2017 financial results, reporting a 5.2% increase in net profit to US$5.56 million, which the firm attributed to higher international macadamia and avocado prices. Kakuzi Plc, the Nairobi and London Stock Exchange listed company operates three major business segments consisting of Avocados,…

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