The Kenyan High Court has dismissed a petition filed against US multinational Del Monte over allegations of human rights abuses, including killings and assaults at its extensive pineapple plantation in Kenya. The court cited a lack of jurisdiction to hear the case, bringing an end to a legal battle that has garnered widespread attention.
Presiding over the case, Lady Justice Florence Muchemi ruled that the court lacked the authority to determine the petition, further dismissing an application seeking to amend the case, stating that it lacked merit.
“This court declared itself to lack jurisdiction to hear and determine the petition,” said Justice Muchemi. “Being a public interest matter as it appeared to the court after reviewing the documents, I hereby order each party to bear its own costs.”
The petition was filed by a coalition of human rights groups and local community activists, who accused Del Monte of being responsible for violent incidents allegedly carried out by its security personnel. The case revolved around allegations that the company’s guards had engaged in severe retaliatory measures against individuals crossing into the plantation, including physical assault, torture, rape, and even murder.
According to the petitioners, Del Monte’s security personnel were involved in multiple killings of alleged trespassers, with reports suggesting that victims were beaten, drowned in plantation dams, or had their bodies dumped in nearby rivers. The accusations come amidst a protracted land ownership dispute between Del Monte and local communities, who claim that the multinational’s 10,000-acre plantation, located near Nairobi, sits on ancestral land.
Del Monte, one of Kenya’s largest employers with a workforce of approximately 6,000 people, has vehemently denied the allegations. The company maintains that its security operations comply with legal standards and are necessary to safeguard its property from trespassers.
The dismissal of the petition marks a turning point in the legal battle, but the broader dispute over land rights and allegations of violence remains unresolved. Activists and local communities are expected to explore other legal avenues to seek redress, potentially escalating the case to international human rights bodies.
As the dust settles on this court ruling, the case underscores ongoing tensions between multinational corporations and local communities in Kenya, highlighting the persistent challenges in balancing corporate interests with human rights and land ownership claims.
