In February 2020, social media erupted after one Chinese national was recorded whipping a Kenyan employee in Nairobi.
The Chinese, Deng Hailan and three other Asian colleagues were deported within the same month after Interior CS Fred Matiang’i stated that they were living in the country illegally.
In late July 2020, the assaulted waiter, Simon Oseko, sued to have Hailan extradited to Kenya to face charges arguing that not subjecting him to the Kenyan justice system was a violation of the law.
The petitioner filed the cases at the High Court registry, suing CS Matiang’i, the Chiese government, Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai, Attorney General Paul Kihara and the Chinese restaurant where the incident happened.
In the court papers filed at High Court, Oseko argued that he was subjected to torture and indecent treatment adding that he was sexually harassed by Hailan.
The Kenyan detailed that the Chinese made advances towards him in October 2019 while working at the hotel.
His lawyers, Musyoki Mogaka and Company Advocates stated that Oseko lost his job after the incident and was not paid part of his salary.
The Kenyan earned Ksh 12,000 per month and claimed that he was not issued with a contract as he was employed orally.
He sued the hotel for issuing him with public health certificates mandatory for a food handler yet he never signed a work contract.
China declared its support for Kenyan authorities after the incident sparked an uproar in the country.
The Chinese Embassy in Kenya issued a statement through its social media pages on Saturday, February 8.
“The Embassy noticed a video clip about a Chinese chef and Kenyan colleague. We support the Kenyan police to investigate the whole issue thoroughly according to Kenyan laws.
“Whoever violated the law will face legal consequences,” an excerpt of the statement read.
