Ex-former security personnel working at a large Del Monte pineapple plantation in Kenya have finally revealed details of confrontations between guards and criminals on the property. The plantation is currently facing legal action due to accusations of excessive force, sexual assault, and physical abuse by its guards.
Del Monte has recently revealed its decision to hire G4S to manage security operations at its farm, leading to the dismissal of 214 in-house guards.
The ruling came after several inquiries conducted by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism since June of last year, revealing accusations of numerous fatalities and acts of aggression connected to Del Monte’s security personnel.
According to Del Monte, the decision to award the contract to G4S was based on the suggestions made in a recent Human Rights Impact Assessment, which was conducted following the incidents reported. G4S will assign 270 security personnel to the farm, and they will undergo thorough instruction, including training on de-escalation tactics and minimal application of force.
Five ex-guards at the farm claimed in interviews with the Guardian that inadequate training and Del Monte’s negative rapport with the community were factors contributing to intense confrontations.
A former guard who was employed by Del Monte for a decade until 2019 reports that he witnessed unauthorized individuals being attacked by Del Monte’s dogs, sustaining injuries from guards’ physical abuse, or being struck by Del Monte vehicles and then discarded in the nearby bushes by the main road. According to him, some of the injured parties were found and rescued, while the fate of others remains unknown.
The ex-guard shared that they began to realize this job was not a good fit, similar to what their mother had warned them about. As a local resident, they witnessed many acquaintances being mistreated by the guards.
He alleged that the older guards had sold stolen pineapples for profit, which was a lucrative operation. He also accused the commanders of directing patrol teams away from the location where the pineapples were being sold.
A previous senior security officer who served at the farm for 13 years until being laid off during the G4S transition, stated that upon starting the job, he received a baton and received brief instruction on how to handle trespassers, mostly consisting of physical training.
According to him, they were instructed to “apply minimal force” only in mid-2023. This shift in strategy seems to align with the release of the initial Guardian and TBIJ pieces that accuse the guards of using excessive force in June 2023.
The security officer stated, “The nearby community was highly aggressive and continuously targeted us.” They went on to say, “I hold the company accountable for not building a strong relationship with the community, who felt they were not benefiting from Del Monte.”
According to him, the thieves were knowledgeable about the farm and the specific areas where ripe pineapples could be found. The thieves also had connections within the farm, providing them with copious amounts of information that often put them at an advantage. At times, they were even more well-informed than the farmers themselves.
Security personnel reported that the recent addition of a security manager resulted in his resignation last month, while two zone managers were fired for their involvement in a situation where four individuals died while attempting to steal pineapples in December. An article published by The Guardian in the previous month revealed accusations against Del Monte Kenya representatives for allegedly bribing individuals in order to conceal the details surrounding the incident.
A number of ex-security personnel have gathered outside Del Monte to protest, claiming they were fired without notice. A representative from Del Monte stated that the firings were done in compliance with Kenyan regulations and after discussions with the union.
The lawyers of the families involved in the civil case against Del Monte were given approval during the high court session on Thursday to revise their case. They plan to include numerous more claimants.
The headquarter of the tropical fruit company, Fresh Del Monte, located in Florida, is claiming that it should not be held accountable for a case in Kenya as it is headquartered in the Cayman Islands. However, its subsidiary, Del Monte Kenya, does not object to being named and plans to address the accusations.
A representative from Del Monte Kenya stated that they are grateful for the chance to address the accusations made against them and the Kenyan government in the proper setting, which is the courts in Kenya instead of the media.
Mwangi Macharia, chair of the African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action, which is bringing a civil claim against Del Monte on behalf of families, said: “What we see in the change of guards at Del Monte is an admission that their guards were involved in the human rights violations and a major vindication to us who have been dismissed whenever we made these allegations.
“I believe it would be negligent to simply replace the guards with G4S security, as this would not have a significant impact without proper involvement from the community. Stakeholder dialogue is necessary. Merely changing guards without tackling these matters will continue to present problems for us as advocates for human rights.”
A Del Monte Kenya spokesperson said G4S was given the contract because of the Human Rights Impact Assessment’s recommendation and “not as part of any kind of admission of wrongdoing”.
The statement released stated that the accusations against Del Monte Kenya in the media are false and part of a larger campaign to pressure the company to give up its rightful land. The lawsuit named the attorney general and director of public prosecutions of Kenya, as well as Del Monte Kenya and other organizations and individuals, all of which have been urging the company to surrender its legally owned land.
The trial provides a chance for all involved to offer proof, rather than unproven accusations, in a public setting. We have faith that the proceedings will unveil the truth and clear our reputation.
G4S did not provide a comment.
Source: theguardian.com
