No More Chinese Please! Parliament proposes new bill

Parliament has introduced a new Bill seeking to restrict foreigners from obtaining contracts worth more than one billion Kenya shillings. Member of Parliament for Mathira, Rigathi Gachagua has written to National Assembly Speaker, Justin Muturi outlining the reasoning behind the Bill, saying it is aimed at stopping the Chinese from doing jobs that can be done by Kenyans.

According to Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, many of the firms owned and managed by the Chinese have taken over the local supply businesses, depriving Kenyans of jobs. Mr. Gachagua argued that local businesses are no longer able to find markets for their products and therefore wants amendments introduced to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act to cure the wrongs.

“We are staring at a very glaring picture. We are having what I would call the Chinese economic invasion to the republic of Kenya. This people came here slowly and slowly they are kicking the owner of the house out, economically,” said Rigathi.

In the Bill, Rigathu is pushing for strict regulations that will be put in place to see that tenders are awarded to 100% owned Kenyan firms unless there are special circumstances in which, contracts not exceeding one billion Kenya shillings can be awarded to foreigners in the event that Kenyan firms are unable to do the job.

According to the Mathira MP, the country cannot be politically and economically independent with the invasion of the Chinese. The Bill therefore proposes serious offences and financial sanctions against any local person who will be found culpable of registering a company on behalf of foreigners.

The legislator said MPs have a responsibility to come up with laws that protect Kenyans from unfair competition and exploitation by foreigners. Rigathi’s concerns enunciate those of traders who attended a forum on SME’s last week where they made complaints about the Chinese taking over jobs that can be done by Kenyans.

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