Kenya’s government has promised swift action after a video showing a Chinese employee at a private company in Nairobi slapping and kicking a Kenyan worker went viral, reigniting tensions over the treatment of local staff by some foreign investors.
The incident, captured on mobile phone and widely shared online, prompted an unusually forceful response from Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. In a statement issued on Monday evening, the government condemned the assault and stressed that Kenya expects all foreign nationals to respect local laws and cultural norms.
“When in another country, abide by their laws, respect their people, and understand their culture,” Mudavadi said, echoing remarks he has made repeatedly to Kenyans living abroad.
The Chinese embassy in Nairobi moved quickly to distance itself from the episode, describing the footage as “extremely disappointing” and confirming that the company had immediately terminated the worker’s contract.
Embassy officials insisted the incident was isolated and should not damage broader investment ties, noting that the vast majority of Chinese citizens in Kenya obey local regulations.
Rights groups and trade unions have long complained of workplace abuse, poor pay and racial discrimination at some Chinese-run projects, allegations Beijing and the companies involved have consistently rejected. The latest case comes weeks after similar complaints surfaced at a construction site in Kilifi.
Both governments sought to calm public anger, with Mudavadi and the embassy jointly emphasising mutual respect and continued economic cooperation.
Yet the episode has once again exposed the sensitivities surrounding China’s growing presence in Kenya, where billions of dollars in loans and infrastructure contracts have brought thousands of Chinese workers alongside accusations of unequal treatment.
Police have launched an investigation and the Labour ministry says it will review working conditions at the company involved.
