Chinese Bosses Gag Kenyan SGR Workers with Secrecy Contracts After Racism Exposé
Chinese bosses running the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) have reportedly drafted a code of secrecy at work following a local media exposé on how Kenyan employees are harassed, mistreated and racially discriminated against.
The Standard Digital reports that China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is now forcing Kenyan staff to sign a secrecy agreement barring them from taking photos and videos or posting them on social media.
The binding document also forbids the employees from sharing any pictures or videos taken at work with any media outlets.
“One should not post negative articles or writings or videos or photos on social media or Facebook or YouTube and etc involving SGR operations,” part of the secrecy document reads.
Investigations by The Standard exposed the harsh conditions Kenyans working at the SGR are put through; including discrimination, racism, and harassment by the Chinese staff.
For instance, Kenyan staff are reportedly not allowed to share dining tables with their Chinese counterparts in the rail's cafeteria.
“Racism is so real here. There is an unwritten rule of where you need to sit. You cannot just join the Chinese table,” an assistant locomotive driver is quoted as saying.
Kenyans who were hired with a minimum of diploma to be trained as professional locomotive drivers were allegedly assigned menial jobs.
“We just sit at the back and watch. There is no actual transfer of skills that is happening here,” an assistant locomotive driver who has been with the SGR for over a year said.
Electronic equipment at the train are also programmed in Chinese, making it impossible for locals to progress beyond menial jobs. This is despite being recruited as technicians, engineers, and drivers to take over the operation of the line after five years.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday, government spokesperson Eric Kiraithe appeared to shift the blame on the Kenyan workers for the mistreatment by the foreigners.
"I am not saying any worker should be discriminated and humiliated in the work place but we must all appreciate that the operations of a modern train is a profession that calls for military standard discipline."
"Inward looking, haki yetu (our right) centered personalities have no place in this kind of profession, [not now or in the future]. They are the first crop of Kenyans employed on this project and the culture they entrench will determine whether in less that 10 years we shall depend on them," he said.
Comments
modern day slavery
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modern day slavery
Ni bora na pia ni lazima…
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Ni bora na pia ni lazima serikali ya Kenya itoe masharti muhimu ambayo yafaa yazingatiwe na mgeni yeyote wa kigeni ambaye anakuja kufanya kazi au kutembea nchini mwetu.
Kwa mfano:
Mgeni yeyote anayekuja katika nchi ya Uchina anakatazwa kuzungumzia juu ya dini ya Kikiristo au kusambazia Wachina bibilia.
Pili, ukupatikani unahusika na utumiaji au uuzaji wa madawa ya kulevya, uheshimiwa wako utaangamia wakati huo. Huenda baadaye ukapokea marisasi mwilini mwako na uhai wako ukadidimia.
Tatu, mtoaji na mpokeaji rushwa atakaribishwa kwa kupokea marisasi mengi mwilini mwake.
Ningependa Mheshimiwa Ndugu Kiraithe atuangazie masharti machache yanayostahili kufuatwa iwapo mgeni amekuja nchini!
Why cry wanting to dine with…
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Why cry wanting to dine with Chinese wakikula umbwa..socialise I cannot judge but sometimes if you are smart hata wakiprogram their computer in Chinese utashika..but if you printed a diploma from..sory I swarow..the word and expect to be engeneer bla bla iko shida ama if recruitment was done as to who knows who..niwekee uyu hapa..it hapens in +254 a lot and geniun deserving Kenyans do not get a chance..it can be eighter way.
Now that the government…
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Now that the government spokesman, Eric Kiraithe has sided with the Chinese on the question of the workers harassment even before a thorough investigation is carried out, we need to think seriously on how to provide our Kenyan wananchi with legal assistance before they're forced to sign some memorandum counter to their interests. Kenya is not China and our people shouldn't be made to surrender their rights and liberties in exchange for a job. They have raised legitimate job issues and rather than seek remedies for such labor grievances, you've come full throttle to punish them. Please, if you're an attorney in Kenya, raise your voice, go and help our brethrens. No train is worthy tearing down their dignity and self confidence. They shouldn't feel less of a human being in presence of Chinese or anybody else for that matter- especially in their own country. By the way, how do Chinese people treat Kenyans and Africans in China?
these chinese wamekam kenya…
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these chinese wamekam kenya kutu-colonise 2nd time gov'ment should do something on this on my oppinion wanafaa wafukuzwe kenya ni need of investigation. nkt!!!!!!!!!!!
Serikali ya mafi ya kuku!
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Serikali ya mafi ya kuku!
Kibaki used to call…
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In reply to Serikali ya mafi ya kuku! by Ken motley (not verified)
Kibaki used to call bongolala Kenyans MAVI YA KUKU because to him Kenyans were manure/fertilizers paying taxes for him to loot with impunity.And gen Kiguoya looted.
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