COTU calls for immediate deportation of Chinese boss filmed assaulting Kenyan worker
By Paulette Mboga, November 16, 2025Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has demanded the immediate deportation of the Chinese national who was seen on video assaulting a Kenyan worker at TCM Mabati Factory.
Atwoli said the action was unacceptable and called on the government to take firm steps to protect Kenyan workers from mistreatment by foreign investors operating in the country.
In his statement shared on X on Sunday, November 16, 2025, Atwoli said, “COTU (K) demands the immediate deportation of the Chinese national captured on video assaulting a Kenyan worker at TCM Mabati Factory.”
“We also call upon you to deport other rogue Chinese investors, including those running some entities in the EPZ, who force Kenyans to sing Chinese songs. The Government of Kenya must guarantee the dignity of Kenyans working in various locally based foreign investments.”
Atwoli added that such behaviour must not be tolerated and insisted that the state has a responsibility to safeguard its citizens in workplaces, whether locally owned or foreign-owned.
Forgiveness
Before Atwoli’s statement, the Kenyan worker who appeared in the viral video had already said he forgave his boss and wished to continue working.
In the video, the Chinese man is seen trying to kick him several times, missing some kicks but continuing with the assault.
The worker steps back to avoid being hit, and at one point, the Chinese man picks up what appears to be an iron sheet and uses it to hit him.
When the worker was asked, “Na umemsamehea?” he said, “Ehh nimemsamehea na nimewachana nayo. Mimi bado nataka nifanye kazi. Next time kama kuna shida, aniite tuongee kwa ofisi ili kama kuna shida nitakubali makosa yangu. Nimemsamehea na sitaskiza maneno ya watu. Hiyo imeisha hivyo; he is my boss.”
Part of the statement shared by COTU read, “The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya), COTU (K), is deeply concerned by the prevalent cases of abuse of Kenyan workers by foreign investors. We have taken note of a 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 the video exposed a worrying pattern of mistreatment and that the government must act to prevent similar cases in the future.