COTU demands immediate deportation of Chinese national caught assaulting factory worker

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has demanded the immediate deportation of two Chinese nationals accused of assaulting and mistreating Kenyan workers in separate incidents in Eldoret and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

In a letter addressed to Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Musalia Mudavadi, Atwoli condemned what he described as continued labour exploitation, abuse and inhumane treatment of Kenyan workers by rogue foreign investors.

“We are appalled by this incident, which is a gross violation of the rights and dignity of the affected, and, as the voice and defender of Kenyan workers, we will not stand by and watch the dignity of Kenyan workers violated by some rogue Chinese employers operating within our borders,” Atwoli stated.

Labelling the act a gross violation of the dignity and rights of Kenyan workers, Atwoli insisted the manager must be arrested and deported immediately, warning that Kenya should not become a playground of abuse for foreigners.

Dear CS @kipmurkomen,

COTU (K) demands the immediate deportation of the Chinese national captured on video assaulting a Kenyan worker at TCM Mabati Factory. We also call upon you to deport other rogue Chinese investors including those running some entities in EPZ who force… pic.twitter.com/iFQBbnEpCx

— Francis Atwoli NOM (DZA), CBS, EBS, MBS. (@AtwoliDza) November 16, 2025

He urged the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Interior, and other relevant authorities to take decisive action.

"Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust Kenyan workers have placed in your Ministry and the Government at large. Furthermore, we urge your Ministry to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and enforcement measures relating to enterprises run by foreign nationals," he continued.

The latest outrage follows a viral video showing a Chinese manager at TCM Mabati Factory in Eldoret slapping and kicking a Kenyan employee.

The viral clip showed a Chinese man, dressed in a black shirt and blue trousers, physically harassing the worker inside an industrial facility. 

He was seen hurling objects, including a sheet of metal, at the employee, who did not retaliate and instead moved away as someone recorded the incident.

However, in another interesting twist, the employee took to social media to share that he had since forgiven his employer and did not intend to leave the company.

Just days earlier, COTU had filed a complaint against Mr Xiao Jianzhong, a Chinese investor operating within the EPZ, accusing him of forcing Kenyan employees to sing Chinese songs before and after work, denying meal breaks, imposing long hours without pay, and verbally abusing union officials.

The organisation is now calling for stricter oversight of foreign-run enterprises to ensure compliance with Kenyan labour laws and the protection of local workers.