Funyula Residents Sue Coca-Cola After Their Distributor Sold Them Contaminated Drinks

Stephen Serulo, Zablon Barasa and Mr Richard Sikudi, have sued the Atlanta-based company, its Africa subsidiaries (Coca Cola Central, East and West) and local agent Equator Bottlers Limited in Funyula on behalf of 55 other complainants.

The three petitioners have taken the soft drinks giant Coca Cola to Court after one of their distributor sold them contaminated drinks.

In the petition, the petitioners on behalf of other complainants say they bought soft drinks in separate ceremonies last year.

They have medical proof indicating that more than 30 people who took the drinks suffered acute abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, with severe body weakness.

Dr. Sande Charo, Medical superintendent at Busia County referral Hospital confirmed to the court through a medical report that some of 60 patients were confirmed sick by the hospital and got their treatment there.

Dr Charo told this writer that most of them were treated for food poisoning and given strong antibiotics.

He also confirmed that Two of the patients succumbed to severe food poisoning related complications.

Kenya Bureau of Standards reports presented in court by the petitioners revealed that the samples of the drinks taken from the site did not meet the required food standards.

High Court in Busia has started the pretrial of this one of the biggest consumer case in the History of Kenya.

Some of the complainants who have joined the petition have been having complications for over over 4 years now.

In December 2018, Coca Cola, through Anjarwalla and Khanna Advocates, tried to blackmail the plaintiffs’ lawyers to consider the compensation package.

The petitioner said Coca cola has been trying an out-of-court settlement with them.

The drink giant was offering Sh45,000 through their lawyers as an individual compensation cut.

They turned down the deal saying its a blackmail by the company’s law firm and totally unrealistic for the massive damage their substandard drink caused.

Nicholas Okumu and Mr John Osiako appeared before Busia High court Justice Waweru on 10th of June for cross-examination by defence lawyers.