Chinese Manager Fired After Viral Video Shows Assault on Kenyan Worker at Mabati Factory
In a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli described the attack as a blatant violation of the worker’s rights and dignity.
The union said that any assault on a Kenyan worker by a foreigner must be followed by tough and decisive action. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth sang
The Chinese Embassy in Kenya has confirmed that a Chinese national filmed assaulting a Kenyan employee at a mabati manufacturing plant has been dismissed. The incident, captured in an undated video that widely circulated across social media, had triggered outrage among Kenyans who demanded accountability.
In the video clip, the man, believed to be a manager at TCM Mabati Factory in Uasin Gishu County, is captured hitting a Kenyan worker with pieces of roofing material inside what looks like a warehouse section of the facility. The disturbing footage quickly spread online, attracting both public condemnation and calls for action from various organizations.
In response to the uproar, the Chinese Embassy issued a statement on Monday strongly criticizing the manager’s behaviour. The mission noted that Chinese citizens working in Kenya must observe and adhere to local laws and respect the customs and cultural practices of the country.
“We are deeply troubled by the incident captured in the video. According to the information we have received, the company has already terminated the employment of the Chinese staff member involved and is exploring additional disciplinary measures,” the Embassy noted. It further said the act was not acceptable, but it was an isolated case that must not interfere with ongoing cooperation between Kenya and China. The Embassy reminded all its nationals living in Kenya to uphold the values of mutual respect and lawful conduct.
The incident also drew the attention of the Central Organization of Trade Unions that, on Sunday, condemned the assault in strong terms and called for the immediate deportation of the foreign manager. In a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli described the attack as a blatant violation of the worker’s rights and dignity. Atwoli insisted that under no circumstances must foreign supervisors be allowed to mistreat Kenyan employees.
COTU said that failure to deport the Chinese national would dent the confidence Kenyan workers have in the Ministry of Interior’s ability to protect them from abuse. The union said that any assault on a Kenyan worker by a foreigner must be followed by tough and decisive action.
A different video was later released, which showed the Kenyan worker forgiving his supervisor after the incident. The worker spoke calmly, saying he wanted to continue his work in the factory, though hoping that their disagreements in the future would be more tactfully handled: “I have forgiven him, and I still want to continue working here. Next time, if there is a problem, we will resolve it in the office and handle it peacefully. I accept where I might have gone wrong, but I have forgiven him,” he said.
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