VIRAL ASSAULT IN ELDORET: Kenyan Worker Forgives Chinese Boss After Brutal Beating – But COTU Demands Deportation

 | Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County|November 16, 2025 | 12:18 PM EATA

 

A shocking video of a Chinese employer viciously kicking and slapping a Kenyan worker at a metal roofing factory in Eldoret has ignited national outrage, reignited debates on foreign investor accountability, and prompted a swift response from Kenya’s largest trade union.

 

The incident, which occurred at TCM Mabati Factory along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway, was captured on mobile phone footage that went viral on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Within 24 hours, the clip had amassed over 2.1 million views across X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook, with hashtags #DeportTheChineseBoss and #RespectKenyansAtWork trending nationwide.

The Assault: What the Video Shows

In the 42-second clip, a man identified as Mr. Xiao Jianzhoung, a senior manager at the Chinese-owned factory, is seen aggressively confronting a Kenyan male employee in a warehouse setting.The worker, dressed in a company uniform, stands with his hands behind his back as Xiao delivers:Multiple open-handed slaps to the face.

At least five powerful kicks to the torso and legs, Verbal reprimands in Mandarin, interspersed with broken English

The employee does not retaliate. Instead, he remains calm, occasionally nodding — a demeanor many online commentators attribute to fear of losing his job.”He took the beating like a statue. That’s not respect — that’s survival,” wrote X user @ItsKipleting, whose post garnered over 18,000 likes.

The Worker Speaks: “I Have Forgiven Him”In a follow-up video recorded inside the factory office and shared late Saturday night, the assaulted worker — whose name has not been publicly released — made a stunning declaration.

Standing beside Mr. Xiao, he said in Kiswahili:“Nimesamehe mkubwa wangu. Sina chuki naye. Nataka kuendelea na kazi hapa. Nina mtoto mgonjwa hospitalini, na ninahitaji kazi hii.”

(Translation: “I have forgiven my boss. I hold no grudge. I want to continue working here. I have a sick child in hospital and I need this job.”)

The two men then shook hands on camera, with Xiao appearing to apologize in Mandarin (subtitles not provided).

The reconciliation video has divided public opinion:Supporters praise the worker’s maturity and family-first mindset.

Critics question whether the statement was coerced, with some alleging the worker was pressured to record it to prevent job loss or eviction of his family from company housing.

One widely shared X post read: “Forgiveness under duress is not forgiveness. This is damage control. #FreeTheWorker” — @hosea606666

COTU Enters the Fray: “Deport Him Now”On Sunday morning, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli issued a scathing statement addressed directly to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, demanding immediate action.

 

In the letter, seen by MaishaTV Kenya, Atwoli wrote:“This barbaric act is not isolated. Kenyan workers in Chinese factories — especially in EPZs — are subjected to daily humiliation, forced to sing Chinese songs, and treated as subhuman. We demand the immediate deportation of Mr. Xiao Jianzhoung and a full audit of all foreign-owned factories.”

COTU also called for:Prosecution under Kenya’s Employment Act and Penal Code
Compensation for the victim
Stricter vetting of foreign investors
Protection of whistleblowers in workplaces

Atwoli copied Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and threatened nationwide industrial action if the government fails to act.”Kenya is not a colony. No investor — Chinese, American, or otherwise — will be allowed to beat our people in their own country,” Atwoli declared.

Police Investigation Underway — But No ArrestsEldoret OCPD Ali Ndiema confirmed to MaishaTV Kenya that police have launched an investigation.“We have recorded statements from both the complainant and the suspect.

The videos are part of the evidence. No arrests have been made yet, but the file is active,” Ndiema said.

Sources within the station say the Chinese national has been asked to report daily as investigations continue.Government Silence: Interior Ministry Yet to RespondDespite COTU’s direct appeal to Deputy President Kindiki, the Ministry of Interior has issued no official statement as of press time.Kindiki, who landed in Eldoret this morning en route to a church function in Nandi, has not commented on the incident — even as social media users tag him relentlessly.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has also remained silent, though his ministry oversees workplace safety.A Pattern of Abuse: Not the First CaseThis incident is the latest in a string of documented assaults by Chinese nationals against Kenyan workers:Year
In 2018, Chinese SGR supervisor was caught on video whipping Kenyan staff
Internal reprimand; no deportation.
In 2020, a Chinese chef in Nairobi beats employee with stick, calls it “prank”
Case dismissed after “reconciliation”

In 2021, Court awarded Sh3.07M to a beaten worker at Chinese restaurant. The
Payment was delayed; employer fled.
In 2022, Rwanda jailed Chinese national fir 20 years for whipping miners, Kenya cited the case but took no similar action.

Human rights groups say cultural misunderstandings, language barriers, and weak enforcement of labor laws contribute to the trend.

 

Factory Profile:

TCM MabatiOwnership: Chinese conglomerate with operations in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania

Workforce: ~600 employees, majority Kenyan
Location: Industrial area, Eldoret
Products: Roofing sheets, steel products

The company has not responded to requests for comment.

What Happens Next?

Police expected to forward file to DPP within 48 hours.

COTU threatens protests if no deportation by Friday, Parliamentary committee on Labour may summon Interior and Labour CSs

Worker’s family is reportedly still receiving treatment at a private hospital in Eldoret.

Final Word:

While the assaulted worker has chosen forgiveness for the sake of his family, the nation is asking a bigger question: How many more Kenyans must be beaten before foreign investors are held accountable?MaishaTV Kenya is following this story closely.

 

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on X.#JusticeForEldoretWorke