The Chinese firm contracted to run the Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya has been given 72 hours to set the record clear on racism and local staff mistreatment reports.
Kenya Railways has instructed the China Bridge and Road Corporation to submit a report after local dailies exposed foreign employees mistreating Kenyan staff.
This is after Kenya Railways initiated an independent probe on a report that sparked uproar over the manner in which Chinese staff was running the railway line and Madaraka Express.
[caption caption="Madaraka Express "]
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Kenya Railways Managing Director Atanas Maina, in a statement on Monday, announced that they were investigating the alleged incidents of mistreatment of Kenyan staff in the Madaraka Express operations.
“We have taken the matter seriously and should culpability be established against any person or persons, action will be taken in accordance with the contract between us and the operator and in accordance with the laws of Kenya,” stated Mr Maina in the statement.
The MD further indicated that a Human Resource team had been deployed to engage local employees of the operator to ascertain the authenticity of the mistreatment claims.
Reports by the Standard during the weekend exposed alleged damning cases of abject racism meted on Kenyan staff.
The reports sparked public uproar as it was established that Chinese drivers, for instance, only allowed Kenyans to drive the Madaraka Express on its maiden trip.
After making its first trip to the coast with President Kenyatta on board, the 38 qualified Kenyans on the job have never steered any other trip.
The Chinese are also reported to have stringent but unwritten rules that discriminate against Kenyan employees.
The publication reported that the trains’ control systems are in Chinese language and not even notices are written in a language Kenyans can at least read.
