Chinese company under fire for racial discrimination

A Chinese national was on Sunday grilled by the Parliamentary Departmental Committee of Labor and Social Welfare of the National Assembly over the death of one of his local workers and allegations that he was mistreating his workers.

Narok’s Standard Gauge Railway camp liaison officer, Wilson Zeng, failed to explain why the Chinese nationals had acquired 80 per cent of the local jobs at the camp that had initially slotted 576 locals.

Confirming the allegations, Kipipiri Member of Parliament Samuel Gichiri said the camp had failed to fly Kenya’s flag at the camp, lacked safety gear for the job and there were complaints by female workers of sexual harassment by the Chinese men.

At the same time, journalists had a difficult time getting access to the camp, even with clearance from security officials after area MP Ken Aramat was allegedly assaulted by a Chinese national at the gate resulting in a battle with Maasai Morans where police had to intervene to restore calm.

The camp is located near Duka Moja along Narok – Maai Mahiu highway which is part of Nairobi- Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway project under China Communications Construction Company.

The section of the camp located near Duka Moja along Narok – Maai Mahiu highway is number five of Nairobi- Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway project under China Communications Construction Company.

With the allegations tabled before the committee, the camp’s management was given a week to rectify the mess, while Narok Women Representative Soipan Kudate assured that the committee will with immediate effect monitor the activities at the camp to ensure that the camp is regulated.

Reported by Reuben Motochi. Edited by Ann Mukuru