Exposed: 5,000 Chinese Nationals Working at the SGR against 1,600 Kenyans

Even before dust settles on the alleged claims of racism, abuse, harassment, mistreatment, poor working conditions and poor pay for Kenyan Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) workers by Chinese bosses, it has now emerged that the number of foreigners working at the railway is thrice that of Kenyans. 

Investigations carried out by the Standard have revealed that the number of Chinese nationals employed at the SGR stands at 4,954  against 1600 Kenyans staffs.

The numbers are sharp contrast with the initial agreement, where the ratio of Chinese to Kenyan workers at the project was supposed to be 1:3.

About 5,000 Chinese workers at the project include 1,100 civil engineers, 200 bridge engineers, 150 Railway engineers, 120 translators,100 accountants, 90 architectural engineers, 85 electrical and mechanical engineers, more than 80 electricians, at least 50 cooks, over 30 administration officers and 15 dietitians among others, according to the Sundy Standard.

Others include highway engineers, welders, surveyors, archivists, carpenters, assistant engineers and asphalt plant experts and operators. The list further include automation engineers, bench workers, decoration engineers as well as business administrators. 

There are also doctors, traditional medicine, computer engineers, secretaries, chefs, chemical engineers, cost engineers, crane conductors, welders and interpreters. Hundreds of them are working using tourist visas, while others have applied for work permits. 

The government is currently doing a verification exercise to establish the number of foreigners working in the country. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said foreigners found to have taken jobs that can be done by Kenyans will be deported.

The revelation of the number of Chinese working at the SGR exposes a glaring failure by the government to protect jobs meant for Kenyans from being taken by expatriates.