The Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Ukur Yatani, has ordered for a probe into the alleged incidents of racism and discrimination of Kenyan workers at the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train after public concern over the manner in which the government is treating the matter.
The CS constituted a team of high-level ministry officials to take over the probe and get to the bottom of the wild accusations.
Yatani said the allegations if proven to be true, would amount to gross violation of labor laws and Article 41 of the Constitution of Kenya. The CS said those found guilty at the said workplace in Kenya will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The special team of investigators is to produce a comprehensive report within seven days, complete with recommendations. This comes hours after Government Spokesperson Eric Kiraithe issued a separate statement seemingly defending the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) against claims of staff discrimination and mistreatment.
The reports alleged Kenyan staff working at SGR are never allowed to share a table with their Chinese counterparts. The Kenyan staff are also allegedly not allowed to use Chinese vans during drop-off and pick-up hours. Long hours of work, disparities in wages, harassments, threats, and torture were also mentioned.
The Chinese firm at the center of investigations for alleged misconduct went ahead and issued a stringent secrecy agreement form to be signed by the complaining Kenyan employees. The move was perceived as an attempt to silence the workers for talking ill about the contractor and leaking information to the media.