Kenyans Online Bash Gov’t Spokesman Eric Kiraithe Over Claims on Racist Chinese SGR Bosses

Kenyans online have been angered by government spokesman Eric Kiraithe’s statement that shifted the blame on Kenyan Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) workers over their alleged harassment and mistreatment by Chinese contractors.

Speaking on Wednesday, tKiarithe said the government will be pursuing SGR employees who posted negative comments about the organization online.

“Anyone who is posting negative comments on social media about their organization does not belong there, we are looking into those employees who posted the negative comments,” he told journalists in Nairobi.

He appeared to downplay claims of racism and discrimination against Kenyan workers by their Chinese bosses following an exposé by a local media.

“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.

His sentiments has left Kenyans on the social media aggrieved. Here are some of the reactions we sampled;

@ChepkwonyN said: “So anybody posting negative comments about Kenya does not belong here?.”

@noah_kere noted: “Kiraithe should know that this country does not belong to his family .this country belongs to its citizens and if you think we will continue keeping quiet whenever we are wronged by some banyans from China or some corrupt thieves in our country. ehe continue waiting.”

@noah_kere added:” ..someone tell #KIRAITHE #WeKnowYourSalary and there is never in any way that #corruptthieves who think backward can come and betray our country …Kiraithe seems to have received some tokens to speak for #SGRCHINESEBANYANS we will speak whatever we see and hear.”

 @CakeCaro said: “I expected”we are looking into the allegations, and appropriate actions will be taken against perpetrators… ” where did trusting fellow citizen go?”

Peter asked: ” When did our leaders stopped thinking .”

@Nashpae tweeted: “Huh!!! Seriously!! Did #kiraithe just say that? Like for real? So you mean he is actually going to look into those employees posting negative comments and not the cause?? Heheee. Wah!! Mnyonge hana haki kweli.”

@Ziloopi said: “@kiraithe you are living in denial, wake up and smell the coffee. The workers are disgruntled, deal with that, it’s the main issue anything else is comedy.”

@miano_davide noted: “How do you live with yourself knowing a wrong is happening. You can literary sell kenyans just to make a buck. Terrible, he is not competent enough to hold office.”

 @mos_moses said:”So Kiraithe want to say they are false claims. Kenyans should know we are dealing here with a government that is ready to defend the oppressor publicly. While in foreign countries you can’t even point a finger to a citizen we need a lot of learning as a nation.”