PS, police boss react to video of Kibra men racially tormenting Asian couple with coronavirus slur

Senior Government officials have called for legal action to be taken against Kenyans subjecting foreigners to racial abuse in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

This comes after a 30-second video clip circulated on Twitter and Facebook showing Kibra residents accusing an Asian pair of being carriers of the killer coronavirus that broke out in Wuhan City in China in December 2019.

On Wednesday, March 4, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Amb. Macharia Kamau, told K24 Digital that the perpetrators should be subjected to the Kenyan anti-hate law as stipulated in Article 27 of the Constitution, and the National Cohesion and Integration Act No. 12 of 2008.

The Act prohibits any citizen from engaging in ethnic hatred, which includes prejudicial acts against any group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.

“Any person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both,” says the law.

“Following the attack on Chinese nationals in Kibra, the anti-hate law should be adhered to, and the matter should urgently be referred to the Interior Ministry for appropriate action,” said Amb. Macharia.

When reached for comment, the Nairobi Regional Police Commander Philip Ndolo said he has instructed Langata OCPD Gregory Mutiso to liaise with the Nyumba Kumi officials in Kibra to identify the residents who were caught on tape racially abusing the Asian natives.

In the now viral video clip, two male Kibra residents are seen confronting the foreigners, and accusing them of being carriers of the now-dreaded coronavirus.

“You are corona (sic),” one of the youthful men is heard shouting at the Asian couple.

The visibly embarrassed and dejected female Asian native glowered at her aggressors before walking away without saying a word.

The two Kibra men, however, followed the lady and her compatriot and cornered them as they (residents) continued to taunt the pair.

Unable to stomach the coronavirus slur that they were subjected to, the Asian man is seen -- in the video -- charging towards one of their tormentors.

“We do not have coronavirus!” shouted the foreigner as he whipped out his phone to capture the faces of their aggressors.

The 30-second video clip prompted calls on Twitter for Kenyans to be sensitised and warned against racially profiling Asian nationals touring, living or working in the country.

And now, Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo says the Kibra aggressors will be identified and appropriate police action taken against them.

“I have instructed Langata OCPD in conjunction with Nyumba Kumi officials in Kibra to look for the men who were caught on tape racially discriminating the Asian natives. Once that is done, we will, thereafter, institute appropriate police action,” Ndolo told K24 Digital on Tuesday (March 4).

The alleged racist remarks come barely a week after the Chinese Embassy in Kenya advised Kenyans against targeting its (Chinese) citizens with racial slur in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

The Embassy tweeted on February 27, saying such treatment could endanger the lives of the Chinese nationals who are in the country.

“We call upon a rational and scientific approach towards Chinese communities, firmly object any irresponsible and even racist remarks as seen from one of the MPs today,” said the Embassy.

Mavoko legislator Peter Makau had earlier made what had been termed as an inflammatory appeal to his constituents against the Chinese community in Athi River.

Makau had asked the residents to isolate themselves from Chinese nationals after a plane carrying 198 citizens from the Asian country touched down at the JKIA on February 26.