In response to a brewing social media controversy, the Ramco Group has issued a press statement denying any involvement in supplying water for use in police water cannons during ongoing protests against Kenya’s controversial finance bill.
The statement, dated June 23, 2024, aims to set the record straight amid what the company describes as “incorrect allegations” circulating online. In a direct rebuttal, the company states: “We would like to confirm that the Ramco Group has no investments or businesses in the supply or distribution of water.”
The Nairobi-based conglomerate outlined its five core business verticals, which include print and packaging, building materials, manufacturing, services and trading, and office supplies and technologies. Notably absent from this list is any mention of water-related operations.
Ramco Group, which employs over 4,000 people, expressed concern about the potential impact of these unfounded claims on its reputation and workforce. The company reaffirmed its commitment to “transparency, integrity, and excellence in all its business practices.”
In light of the situation, Ramco Group has called for public vigilance in verifying information before sharing. The statement urges “the public to seek and verify information to mitigate against the dissemination of misleading reports.” Additionally, the company has appealed to media outlets to assist in fact-checking during sensitive periods of heightened public discourse.
Despite protestors marching peacefully in various regions across the country, police have responded with excessive force to disperse the masses. Measures used against riotous crowds, such as water canons and teargas, have been deployed, leading to an online inquiry into the companies supplying the police with water.
The ongoing protests in Kenya against the finance bill have been a source of tension, and businesses have become increasingly careful against being unwittingly entangled in political controversies. While some businesses have shown solidarity with Kenyans in support of the #RejectFinanceBill movement, others have been accused of helping the government in its push for the Finance Bill to pass legislation.
