High Court Suspends John Chebochok’s Confirmation as KTDA Director Amid Allegations
The High Court has temporarily halted John Chebochok’s confirmation as the Ainamoi Zonal Director of the Tegat/Toror Tea Factory managed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) in Kericho County.
This decision comes in response to a petition filed by six NGOs: Usikimye Community Based Organisation, Wangu Kanja Foundation (K) Registered Trustees, Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), Oxfam, The African Gender and Media Initiative Trust (GEM) Registered Trustees, and Flone Initiative.
Chebochok faces allegations of sexually exploiting workers. While other directors undergo confirmation on July 18, Chebochok’s name will be absent following Justice Joseph Sergon’s directive.
The directors up for confirmation include Kemboi Geoffrey Kipkirui (Kapsaos zone), Philiph Kipkoech (Mosop zone), Japeth Chepkwony (Kapsuser zone), Chepkirui Korir (Sosiot zone), and Evans Kiplangat (Waldai zone).
Chebochok was elected on June 29 in an election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Justice Sergon clarified that while the Annual General Meeting (AGM) is not entirely suspended, it is prohibited from approving Chebochok’s appointment.
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He instructed the petitioners to submit written arguments, with responses from the respondents, before the matter was decided through written submissions. The court has scheduled the ruling for August 15.
The respondents in the petition include Mr Chebochok, Tegat Tea Factory Limited, KTDA, the Tea Board of Kenya, and the IEBC. The petition lists the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Utu Wetu Trust, Association of Grassroots Journalists Kenya, Advocates for Social Change – Kenya, Independent Medico-Legal Unit, Katiba Institute, National Gender and Equality Commission, and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights as interested parties.
In his defense filed through Dunstan Omari and Associates Advocates, Chebochok stated that he was unfairly condemned following a BBC documentary on February 20, 2023.
He emphasized that the IEBC had cleared him to contest the KTDA election, dismissing the allegations against him as baseless.
Chebochok asserted that none of the women featured in the documentary had formally reported him for the allegations, causing unwarranted embarrassment to him and his associates.
High Court Suspends John Chebochok’s Confirmation as KTDA Director Amid Allegations
