Oxfam kept worker in Haiti for a year despite sexual harassment claims

Oxfam has been accused of further failures in Haiti by keeping a senior aid worker in the earthquake-torn country for more than a year, despite reported sexual harassment claims.

According to an internal report seen by The Times, the charity attempted to “contain” sexual harassment allegations involving Raphael Mutiku, who led Oxfam’s installation of water supplies in Haiti after the earthquake.

The documents claim to show a final written warning was issued to Mr Mutiku, a Kenyan in his 40s, in June 2010, following allegations of sexual harassment from female colleagues.

However, six months later when it was alleged that Mr Mutiku was paying young women for sex at his Oxfam accommodation, his manager at the charity’s headquarters in Oxford is reported to have said he hoped the charity could “contain this”.

An Oxfam spokesman said: “The decision not to sack Raphael Mutiku in 2010 was wrong. It was taken by Roland van Hauwermeiren, the then country director, who as recent reports have detailed was himself guilty of sexual misconduct. His decision making was therefore compromised.”

Mr van Hauwermeiren was one of three Oxfam staff members to resign in 2011 after an internal investigation. Mr Mutiku was dismissed in 2011 following the same investigation.