Sonko cancels Chandarana Supermarket licences after racist email

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Sunday evening cancelled licences for all Chandarana Foodplus supermarkets following claims of racial bias.

In a text message to newsrooms, Sonko said he had ordered his county officers to ensure enforcement of the shutdown starting Monday.

Chandarana Foodplus Supermarket blamed a new employee in their marketing department for a recently leaked racially sensitive email.

In a screenshot of the email to managers on Friday, the retail giant’s Marketing Specialist Rima Patel said, “We are delighted to inform you that our supermarket chain, would like to give you free vouchers to winner/raffles/best performer/runners-up candidate in upcoming events. As we are now focusing on white people to attract our supermarkets.”

The mail, perceived to have implied that the retail chain was only interested in white clients, elicited anger from Kenyans on social media with most of them vowing not to visit any of the supermarket’s outlets again.

.@ChandaranaSuper what kind of BS marketing is this? "You are now focusing on white people to attract your supermarkets" The audacity! #ChandaranasSoRacist pic.twitter.com/ysKHgXaRnK

— Felogene Anumo (@felogene) July 27, 2018

The email must have been by one of their straight off the boat Indian hires. You see them supervising in all the stores. I used to be a loyal customer at Chandarana Muthaiga until they brought in these guys #RacistChandarana.

— Yvonne Murimi (@Ecomumkenya) July 29, 2018

https://twitter.com/bizzimania/status/1023435244836474880

Chandarana Supermarket has, however, issued an apology for the perceived racially insensitive email, terming it as an error committed by “one of our very new and recent hires in the marketing department.”

“Her lack of proficiency in the English language is an easy way to justify this horrendous error.”

The supermarket chain further stated that it would take necessary steps to make sure the error never happens again.

“The immense magnitude of this error undoubtedly comes to us as a severe embarrassment and all the apologies in the world cannot make such a wrong a right again,” said the supermarket.

Please accept our sincere apology for a recent email sent to you pic.twitter.com/NPch9dboM9

— Chandarana Foodplus (@ChandaranaSuper) July 28, 2018

The apology has drawn even more criticism, with a section of online users faulting the retail chain for hiring a non-Kenyan employee with poor communication skills.

So you want us to buy from you but you cannot hire Kenyans in professional areas of your supermarket?

— #GainWithXtianDela (@OwenHinga) July 28, 2018

The fact that your so called new hire cannot communicate in English is a problem in itself. You could not employ a competent Kenyan marketing professional with good communication skills? We have got plenty of those.

— Wambui Munene (@WambuiMunene31) July 28, 2018

What a poor excuse. Let's start by asking if they're paying the intern at all. This could be a cheap is expensive situation.
I like shopping at Chandarana but right now I'm giving them the side eye.

— Warũgũrũ Mũchĩra (@WaruguruMuchira) July 28, 2018

Nice apology letter but damage is already done.The fact that you have an employee that can write such an email says so much about the companies focus on racial profiling.very sad.

— James Mccreadie (@mojemccreadie) July 28, 2018

You need not punish the new marketing recruit. She obviously picked her cue from someone or persons senior to her and must be a true and factual reflection of what you truly stand for.

— Bernard Arnold (@BernardArnold12) July 28, 2018