In a decisive and commendable judgment, Hon. Justice Joseph Sergon of the Kericho High Court ruled in favour of the validity of annulment of John Chebochok's election as Director of Tegat Tea Factory.
This is a major victory in the fight against gender-based violence as Hon. Justice Sergon had earlier barred the approval of Chebochok’s appointment as director until the court declared a final ruling today.
This decision by the High Court to halt John Chebochok’s confirmation as KTDA Director echoes the Minstry of Agriculture’s earlier move to nullify his election, marking a united front in upholding the principles of justice, integrity, and accountability. It sets a powerful precedent for future governance where both the government and the judiciary have demonstrated a firm commitment to ensuring that leadership in Kenya remains rooted in ethical standards and public trust. This alignment between the court’s ruling and the government’s action underscores a shared dedication to protecting the rights of women and maintaining the high standards of professional ethics that are essential to our nation’s democratic foundation.
“The court’s ruling in support of the annulment of John Chebochok's election as the Director of Toror Tea Factory is a stride towards the preservation of human dignity, especially that of women. Going forward, this will serve as a reference point that positions of power should not be used to sexually assault vulnerable women seeking an honest source of income and livelihood for their families. Persons of questionable character should be barred from heading public offices as this is a threat to the upholding of human rights for all. This is a strong message for all those institutions who were responsible for electing John Chebochok to a seat of power that their actions were reprehensible. ” say Nguvu Change Leaders.
This decision comes after nearly two months of persistent joint advocacy by civil society organisations who unified to amplify the issue through a series of actions including online petitions launched by Nguvu Change Leaders, social media advocacy, letters and emails to relevant stakeholders in authority, and the historic court motion by 6 organisations under the umbrella of Coalition of Organisations Working on Sexual Violence in Kenya and Crusaders for Human Rights and Public Interest Cases. The relentless campaign by Nguvu Change Leaders was jointly led by Kerry Mwita, Deborah Monari, Synthia Sienwa and Josephine Mwende.
On July 10, Nguvu Change Leaders urged the shareholders of the Tegat Tea Factory in a joint call to make a choice that champions justice and integrity, and to denounce the selection of John Chebochok as the director of Tegat tea factory.
A month later, both the Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Paul Ronoh and the High Court heeded this call, marking a critical step forward in protecting the rights and well-being of women in Kenya’s tea industry.
