British supermarket giants Morrisons and Iceland have joined a growing list of retailers severing ties with Del Monte Kenya following continued accusations of human rights abuses at its pineapple plantation in Thika.

The move comes after investigative reports by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and The Guardian documented killings allegedly committed by Del Monte security guards against suspected pineapple thieves on the farm.

These reports sparked widespread criticism and calls for accountability.

Morrison's, the fifth-largest supermarket chain in the UK, confirmed they are "moving tinned pineapple sourcing out of Kenya until Del Monte's human rights improvement plan has been fully implemented." This follows similar actions taken earlier by Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, and Waitrose.

Iceland, with over 900 stores across the UK, also weighed in, stating they "do not stock products from the farms in question."

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These decisions reflect the increasing pressure on Del Monte to address the human rights concerns.

Aine Clarke, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, emphasized the importance for companies to demonstrate that they have engaged in a dialogue with any stakeholders reportedly affected by allegations of abuse.

In response to the accusations, Del Monte previously announced the dismissal of 214 security guards at the farm, replacing them with personnel from G4S Kenya.

Additionally, they are reportedly in the process of implementing a human rights improvement plan.

However, the recent findings by the TBIJ, which include the discovery of four bodies near the farm in December and bystander injuries from conflicts with police, suggest the violence may be ongoing.

This ongoing crisis has its roots in a long-standing land ownership dispute.

The lawsuit filed against Del Monte by a rights group and community activists claims the company's land overlaps with the local community's ancestral home.

This dispute has allegedly led to tensions and "conflicts with the security personnel deployed by Del Monte."

The lawsuit further details a pattern of brutality against trespassers, including assault, beatings, torture, rape, and killings.

It accuses the guards of employing brutal tactics such as beatings, drownings, and dumping bodies in nearby rivers.

These accusations extend beyond physical violence. The lawsuit also raises concerns about environmental damage, claiming the company's wastewater contains "toxic pesticides" deemed hazardous by the World Health Organization.

The lawsuit seeks compensation, punitive damages, and a court ruling declaring the actions of Del Monte and involved officials as violations of human rights, environmental, and constitutional laws.

The situation remains under close scrutiny.

Whether Del Monte can effectively address the human rights concerns and regain the trust of retailers and consumers will be a critical factor in determining the future of their Kenyan operations.

The situation raises serious concerns about human rights protections in corporate operations across the globe.