G4S Under Fire Over Alleged Attack on Kenyans at Del Monte Farm

The Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya, situated on the border of Murang'a and Kiambu counties approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Nairobi, has become the centre of controversy due to allegations of violent attacks by security guards.

The most recent incident involves Duncan Ndegwa, a 55-year-old pump operator, who claims he was brutally assaulted by guards from G4S, the UK-based security contractor now managing the farm's security operations. Ndegwa alleges that on a May evening, while riding his motorbike along a public road traversing the plantation, he was mistaken for a pineapple thief and attacked by G4S guards. He recounts being stripped of his boots, beaten with batons and sticks, and forcibly taken to a rural house where the assault continued. The severity of the attack left Ndegwa unconscious and he later awoke in a dense thicket, believing his assailants had intended to kill him.

“When I felt overwhelmed by the beating, I started begging them to take me to the police station if indeed I was a pineapple thief.”he narrates.

This incident is particularly significant as it marks the first known allegation of violence linked to G4S since the company assumed control of security operations at the farm. The transition occurred in March when Del Monte dismissed over 200 of its guards following recommendations from a human rights report. This report was commissioned by Del Monte in response to earlier revelations by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) regarding numerous allegations of violence and killings by the farm's previous security personnel.

G4S has strongly refuted the accusations, asserting that Ndegwa was caught stealing pineapples with an accomplice. The company states it is fully cooperating with police investigations and is committed to fostering positive relations with the local community. Del Monte, however, has not responded to requests for comment from TBIJ and Nation. The Del Monte plantation has long been a source of tension with the surrounding community, which grapples with poverty and unemployment. Many local groups, predominantly young men, have resorted to stealing fruit from the farm.

This has led to a cycle of confrontations and alleged violence, with previous incidents including attacks on individuals traveling on public roads through the farm property. Human rights organizations are calling for a thorough investigation into the incident and for improved measures to protect the rights and safety of local residents. They argue that while theft prevention is a legitimate concern for the farm, it does not justify the use of excessive force against potentially innocent individual.