Del Monte has issued a statement after the Guardian ran a story where they accused their guards of brutally assaulting and killing people suspected of trespassing on its land.
In the statement, Del Monte noted that they take the accusations seriously and have instituted a full and urgent investigation into the allegations.
"We take these allegations extremely seriously and have instituted a full and urgent investigation into them. The conduct alleged in these cases is in clear violation of Fresh Del Monte’s long-standing commitment to human rights and the comprehensive policies and procedures we have in place to ensure our operations respect the dignity of all individuals," part of the statement read.
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The statement adds, "Our proactive investigations continue and will be supported by an independent review by a specialist human rights consultancy. We continue to fully support the Kenyan authorities' investigations to better understand the nature of these allegations and confirm their veracity.
In a joint investigation, the Guardian alleged to have uncovered claims from villagers of violence by guards at the plantation in the last four years.
According to the Guardian, two individuals identified as John Rui Karia and Stephen Thuo Nyoike died as a result of beatings by the guards at the Del Monte pineapple farms.
At the same time, the report indicates the theft of scale at Del Monte farms has left some of their guards injured.
