An investigation has been initiated by Kenyan authorities into the alleged killings of four men at a pineapple plantation owned by US company Del Monte near Nairobi, according to county commissioner Patrick Mukuria.
The bodies of the men were discovered in a river close to the Del Monte farm in Thika, about 40 km from the capital, five days after they went missing.
Relatives of the victims have urged the government to investigate how the men ended up in the river, as some of the bodies showed signs of injuries, indicating they may have been beaten.
While the alleged murders are being investigated, no suspects have been apprehended. This incident follows a previous report by The Guardian in June, which revealed evidence of abuse and violence by Del Monte guards against locals suspected of trespassing on the farm.
The Guardian recently reported on an investigation by human rights groups into a death at a farm, where a 25-year-old man’s body was discovered in a dam. It was alleged that he had gone to the farm to steal pineapples.
Del Monte, in a statement released by AFP, stated that surveillance footage showed four men attempting to steal pineapples from their farm. The company emphasized that the area is plagued by organized crime related to pineapple theft.
Del Monte assured the public that they are cooperating with Kenyan authorities in their investigation into the four bodies found in the Thika River.
The company’s security footage revealed that the thieves dropped the stolen pineapples and fled towards the river in an attempt to escape security guards. Del Monte, known as the largest exporter of Kenyan produce, supplies canned and fresh pineapple to supermarkets in the UK and other countries.
