Twenty-six workers at the Alton Estate, a flower farm in Kenya owned by the British company, Shalimar Flowers, have been indicted and face potential imprisonment and fines under Kenya’s Penal Code. The workers’ plight is rooted in a labor dispute that began when they joined the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) to fight for better wages and working conditions. Shalimar Flowers, in response, reportedly intimidated and victimized union members.
The situation escalated with a strike, after which Shalimar Flowers terminated the employment of over 500 workers, including the 26 now indicted. These workers are accused of malicious damage to property during the strike, charges they vehemently deny. The workers maintain their innocence and argue that the charges are fabricated to intimidate union members and suppress their demands for fair treatment.
The KPAWU and human rights organizations are condemning the indictments, viewing them as a blatant attack on the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain. They are calling for the charges to be dropped and for a fair resolution to the labor dispute. The case highlights the challenges faced by workers in Kenya’s agricultural sector, particularly on foreign-owned estates, who often encounter resistance when attempting to unionize and improve their working conditions.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/06/17/cmmp-j17.html