A disturbing incident at the TCM Mabati Factory in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county, has ignited a national debate on workers' rights and the conduct of foreign employers in Kenya. A Chinese national, identified as a manager, was captured on video assaulting a Kenyan worker with an iron sheet, an act that quickly went viral across social media platforms. The footage showed the helpless worker raising his hands, seemingly pleading for mercy, without retaliating against the physical abuse.

The video provoked widespread outrage among Kenyans, who took to social media to demand swift action against the foreign national. Many likened the scene to long-standing grievances, claiming it mirrored the mistreatment numerous Kenyans endure at the hands of rogue foreign employers. These citizens often choose to persevere through such abuses to retain their jobs amidst harsh economic realities, underscoring a deep-seated issue within the employee-employer relationship dynamics involving foreign investors.

Amidst the public outcry, a controversial turn emerged when a second video circulated, showing the assaulted worker appearing to reconcile with his boss. In this video, the worker stated, "I have forgiven him and I do not have a problem with him anymore, and I still want to work here." He further added, "Next time, if there is a problem, he will call me to his office and I will accept my mistakes. But I have forgiven him. I will not listen to what people say because the disagreement has ended. He is my boss, and he will remain my boss." This 'truce,' however, failed to convince many Kenyans, who opined that the worker might have been coerced into forgiving his perpetrator, or acted out of a desperate need to secure his employment and maintain a favorable relationship with his employer. Observers noted the cold body language of the Chinese national during the handshake, further fueling doubts about the sincerity and voluntariness of the reconciliation.

In response to the viral incident, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, Kenya (COTU-K), led by Secretary General Francis Atwoli, issued a forceful condemnation. COTU expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of abuse of Kenyan workers by foreign investors, declaring that it would not stand by and watch the dignity of Kenyan workers violated. In a protest letter addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, Atwoli categorically demanded the immediate deportation of the Chinese national involved in the physical altercation, asserting that anything less would be a betrayal of the trust Kenyan workers place in the government and its ministries.

COTU highlighted that the assault constituted a gross violation of workers' rights and dignity, emphasizing that Kenyan labour laws guarantee a safe working environment free from harm, harassment, or discrimination. The union also pointed to a concerning trend, noting that this was the second such case in a week, referencing a prior complaint involving a Chinese investor at an Export Processing Zone who allegedly forced employees to sing Chinese songs and verbally abused a union leader. Consequently, COTU urged both the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, led by Alfred Mutua, to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and enforcement measures relating to enterprises run by foreign nationals to prevent future occurrences of such egregious abuses.