The newly elected Director of Toror Tea Factory, John Chebochok, has issued a demand letter to the BBC seeking a Ksh.100 million defamation settlement for their documentary titled “Sex for Work: The True Cost of Our Tea.” The 2023 exposé accused Chebochok of allegedly exploiting female workers at a James Finlay Limited factory in Kericho in exchange for employment.

Chebochok, through his lawyer Danstan Omari, claims the allegations in the documentary are outrageous and part of a calculated scheme to defame him. He asserts that his competitors in politics and the tea sector, who opposed his mechanization efforts at Finlay, orchestrated the claims after some voters lost jobs due to the changes.

Omari questioned the documentary’s airing without Chebochok’s input, noting it has over 2.8 million views on YouTube. He also pointed out that no alleged victim has filed a complaint with the police or any investigating authority.

“The malicious broadcast of your documentary has caused our client significant emotional, psychological, and unwarranted distress and stigma,” Omari stated. He added that various entities have used the documentary to tarnish Chebochok’s name and subvert his political ambitions.

Omari demanded a full apology and retraction from the BBC, along with a cessation of any further defamatory publications about Chebochok. He warned that failure to comply within three working days would result in legal action.

The letter comes amid international calls for Chebochok’s removal as Toror Tea Factory director. Both Finlays and Lipton Teas and Infusions have ceased purchasing tea from Toror Factory and urged other stakeholders to follow suit until Chebochok is removed. The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has also appealed for an opportunity to address the concerns with relevant authorities.