A rights group and community activists filed a lawsuit Saturday against US multinational food giant Del Monte over accusations of killings and assaults at its vast pineapple plantation near Nairobi. The case, lodged at the High of Court Kenya, is also on behalf of people who say they had been attacked by Del Monte security guards, and relatives of alleged victims. Saturday's lawsuit, a copy of which was seen by AFP, said Del Monte has been locked in a land ownership row with the local community, which claims the company's land as its ancestral home. In addition, it said waste water from Del Monte operations was laced with "toxic pesticides" deemed hazardous by the World Health Organization. "Del Monte Kenya is cooperating with Kenyan authorities as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the four bodies," it said in a statement to AFP earlier this week.

Source: Daily Nation December 31, 2023 17:36 UTC