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Deport 'rogue' Chinese employer, Atwoli reacts to viral assault video
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary general Francis Atwoli.
What you need to know:
- Cotu boss Atwoli termed the incident as gross violation of the rights and dignity of the Kenyan employee.
- Atwoli said Cotu will not watch as the dignity of Kenyan workers is violate by rogue Chinese employers.
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) is calling for the immediate deportation of a Chinese national who was captured in a viral video assaulting a Kenyan worker.
In a letter addressed to Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchuma Murkomen, Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli termed the incident as gross violation of the rights and dignity of the Kenyan employee.
“We have taken note of the disturbing viral video circulating on social media in which a Chinese national, allegedly a manager at TCM Mabati Factory in Eldoret, is clearly seen assaulting a Kenyan worker under his supervision,” Atwoli said in the letter dated November 15, 2025.
“Cotu therefore demands the immediate deportation of the Chinese national. Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust Kenya workers have placed in your Ministry and the Government at large,” Atwoli further said.
Rogue Chinese employers
Atwoli also noted that last week Cotu raised similar concerns about another Chinese investor at the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) who reportedly forced Kenyan workers to sing Chinese songs before, during and after work.
“As the voice and defender of Kenyan workers, we will not stand by and watch the dignity of Kenyan workers violate by some rogue Chinese employers operating within our borders,” he said.
In the video, the Chinese national is seen kicking and punching the Kenyan worker without provocation. The assault continues even as the employee retreats in an effort to get away from the assailant.
Other people, who appear to be fellow workers, are also partially captured in the video, but none of them makes an effort to intervene.
