Petitioners seek to revoke Chebochok's election as Toror tea factory director

Though John Chebochok was mentioned adversely, he was never charged in a court of law after his alleged victims failed to come forward. [File, Standard]

Over 3,311 people have petitioned the electoral agency to revoke the election of John Chebochok as the Toror tea factory director in the just concluded polls.

In an online petition addressed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan and the Tea Board of Kenya Chairman Jacob Kahiu, the petitioners cite Chebochok's involvement in the BBC's sex for work scandal as the reason.

The petition was initiated by Kerry Mwita, just hours after the just concluded Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) election in 54 zones.

The petitioners expressed their disappointment that despite the serious sex exploitation allegations, Chebochok was cleared by the agency to contest the post.

"Even more unfortunately, he got elected. Acknowledging the depth of the exposed matter within his former business space, it becomes an immediate concern to revoke his election," the petition states.

Mwita emphasised that the torment and trauma endured by numerous women to expose the alleged unethical conduct of exploitative employers should not be disregarded by allowing individuals implicated in such scandals to secure authoritative positions.

"His election poses a major reputational risk both to the Kenya Tea Development Agency and the larger industry," the petitioner said.

In a signed letter to the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) CEO Willy Mutai, IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan declined to postpone the KTDA elections in Ainamoi zone, which were held on June 28, 2024.

The commission maintained that the election was a result of judicial proceedings, culminating in a consent order decreeing that TBK would oversee the election while the IEBC conducted it.

"We have appraised the manual for the election of directors but are unable to find any provision that confers power on the IEBC to postpone the election for Ainamoi zone or any other on account of the contemplated investigation," Marjan stated.

The petition continues to gather support as concerned stakeholders and members of the public call for the immediate revocation of Chebochok's election to uphold the integrity and reputation of the tea industry in Kenya.