A disturbing incident at TCM Mabati Factory in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, has sparked nationwide outrage after a widely circulated video showed a Chinese manager assaulting a Kenyan employee with roofing sheets inside a warehouse. The undated footage quickly went viral on social media, prompting immediate action and strong condemnation.

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Kenya confirmed on Monday that the company had terminated the assailant’s contract and was considering additional disciplinary measures. The Embassy expressed extreme disappointment, stating, “We have noticed a video circulating online showing a Chinese worker at a private company assaulting his Kenyan colleague. We are extremely disappointed to see such an incident occur.”

The Embassy emphasized that Chinese nationals in Kenya are expected to strictly comply with local laws and cultural norms, while noting that the vast majority of Chinese citizens in the country do so. It also stressed that this isolated incident should not undermine ongoing investment cooperation between Chinese and Kenyan companies.

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) strongly condemned the assault. Secretary General Francis Atwoli described the act as a blatant violation of workers’ rights and dignity in a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. COTU demanded immediate action, including deportation of the Chinese manager, warning that inaction could erode confidence among Kenyan workers in government protections.

Under Kenyan law, assault occasioning actual bodily harm is a misdemeanour carrying up to five years imprisonment. For foreign nationals, a conviction may lead to deportation, revocation of work permits, and designation as a prohibited immigrant under Kenya’s Penal Code. The Embassy’s admonition for Chinese citizens to abide by local laws aligns with these legal provisions, indicating potential criminal liability beyond company-level disciplinary action.

Adding complexity to the saga, reports indicate that the victim has forgiven the perpetrator, though this development has not eased public outrage or COTU’s calls for strict enforcement of justice. The incident continues to fuel discussions on workplace safety, foreign labor accountability, and the broader dynamics of Chinese-Kenyan business relations.