Chinese national sacked after being filmed assaulting Kenyan worker
The Embassy condemned the incident, which was captured on a viral video, terming it unacceptable and deeply disappointing.
A Chinese factory manager filmed attacking a Kenyan employee with roofing sheets at a Mabati plant in Uasin Gishu has been sacked, the Chinese Embassy has said.
In a statement, the Embassy condemned the incident, which was captured on a viral video, terming it unacceptable and deeply disappointing.
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The video, which spread widely online, shows the manager striking the worker multiple times with roofing sheets inside what appears to be a factory warehouse. The incident reportedly took place at TCM Mabati Factory in Uasin Gishu, where the Chinese national worked as a manager.
“We have noticed a video circulating online showing a Chinese worker at a private company assaulting his Kenyan colleague. We are extremely disappointed to see such an incident occur. As we are informed, the company’s management has immediately terminated the Chinese worker’s contract and will consider further disciplinary action,” reads the statement.
The Embassy said it consistently requires Chinese citizens in Kenya to strictly abide by local laws, regulations and cultural customs, noting that most comply.
It further said the incident should not disrupt cooperation between Chinese and Kenyan companies but serves as a reminder that all Chinese citizens in Kenya “must uphold the principle of mutual respect with Kenyan friends and behave in accordance with the laws, regulations and cultural customs of Kenya.”
The footage sparked a national outcry, prompting condemnation from the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), which demanded the immediate deportation of the manager.
In a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli described the assault as a serious violation of the worker's rights and dignity.
“We are appalled by this incident, which is a gross violation of the rights and dignity of the affected worker. We will not stand by and watch the dignity of Kenyan workers violated by rogue Chinese employers operating within our borders,” Atwoli said.
COTU called for swift government action, insisting that the manager’s removal from the country would demonstrate the state’s commitment to protecting Kenyan workers.
“Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust Kenyan workers have placed in your Ministry,” the union warned.
The union urged the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to intensify monitoring of enterprises operated by foreign nationals and enforce labour standards without compromise.
The dismissal comes despite a separate video showing the assaulted worker shaking hands with the manager, saying he had forgiven him and intended to continue working at the factory.
“I have forgiven him, and I do not have a problem with him anymore, and I still want to work here. Next time, if there is a problem, he will call me to his office and I will accept my mistakes. But I have forgiven him. I will not listen to what people say because the disagreement has ended. He is my boss, and he will remain my boss,” he said.
However, the reconciliation video attracted mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans expressing concern that the worker may have been coerced into making the statement.
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