This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On October 22, 2019, the Standard published a report revealing racism, abuse, and mistreatment of Kenyan workers by Chinese nationals on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.
The report, which was based on an investigation, found that Chinese workers were running a 'racist little kingdom' on the trains, excluding Kenyan workers from core duties such as driving the trains.
According to the report, Kenyan drivers had only taken charge of the 472-kilometer ride once, during the project launch with President Uhuru Kenyatta as a passenger. After the cameras and VIPs left, the Chinese drivers took back control and have never allowed Kenyan drivers to navigate the passengers since.
The investigation also revealed that Kenyan workers were not allowed to travel in the same vehicles as the Chinese or eat at the same tables with them. On freight trains, Chinese staff were allowed to smoke and use mobile phones, which would get their Kenyan counterparts fired.
The government's response to the allegations was to blame Kenyans for not understanding the work the Chinese were doing and for focusing on the racial insults they were receiving. The government spokesman, Colonel Cyrus Oguna, said that Kenyans should 'comprehend the work the Chinese are doing rather than focussing on the racial insults they are receiving from the Chinese.'
However, the Chinese developer and operator of the SGR, China Road and Bridge Corporation, stands accused of discriminating against Kenyan workers, who are expected to take over the running of the rail service in 10 years.
