The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) has formally demanded the immediate deportation of two Chinese nationals following separate incidents of severe labour exploitation and abuse of Kenyan workers.

In a letter dated November 12, 2025, COTU wrote to the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, demanding action against Mr. Xiao Jianzhoung. Mr. Xiao, who runs a company in the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), accusing him of subjecting workers to deplorable conditions that violate both national and international labour standards.

Reports from the Tailors and Textile Workers Union allege widespread abuse, including, workers being forced to endure excessively long hours without fair compensation or overtime pay, the mandatory singing of Chinese songs before, during, and after work as a form of “coercion and humiliation”, restricted or denied toilet breaks, constituting a denial of basic human needs, and an environment of fear, intimidation, and psychological distress.

COTU also noted that Mr. Xiao verbally abused and insulted the General Secretary of the Tailors and Textile Workers Union, calling this a “grave act of disrespect” to the entire Kenyan labour movement and national sovereignty.

Just three days later, on November 15, 2025, COTU sent a second letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Senator Kipchumba Murkomen. This letter called for the immediate deportation of an unnamed Chinese national manager at the TCM Mabati Factory in Eldoret.

The union said it was appalled after seeing a disturbing viral video that allegedly showed the manager clearly assaulting a Kenyan worker.

“Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust Kenyan workers have placed in your Ministry and the Government at large.”

COTU is now urging the government to strengthen monitoring and enforcement measures for all enterprises run by foreign nationals.