Deputy President William Ruto has issued a stern warning to Chinese nationals in Kenya saying they will not be spared if they fail to respect the laws of the country.
When he met the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Wu Peng his Karen Office in Nairobi, the envoy noted that China was concerned by cases of their citizens’ failure to regulate their behaviour.
He said those found flouting the laws of the land would not only be punished by Kenya but also will face “our own internal measures as China”.
“Our citizens must respect the rule of law in Kenya. They should do the right thing and get permits and licenses where necessary,” he said.
On the other hand, Dr Ruto said the two countries should inevitably work towards forging a win-win partnership.
The Deputy President said he did not expect the Chinese to engage in activities, such as small businesses, that most Kenyans draw their livelihoods from.
We are happy with agreements that will increase commerce and realise a balance of trade between Nairobi and Beijing. Kenya and China continue to collaborate and deepen partnership in the areas of infrastructure development, ICT, cultural exchange programmes and education. pic.twitter.com/vgp1dOSvzm
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) May 23, 2019
“Kenya is run by the rule of law. We, therefore, expect the Chinese to adhere to them, and where there is lack of clarity, seek guidance from authorities,” added Dr Ruto.
He said China and Kenya share common development and transformation vision, which is anchored on the Strategic Comprehensive Cooperation Partnership agreement that was signed in 2016.
“This agreement has yielded positive results and has seen high-level exchanges between the two countries and cooperation in infrastructure, manpower development, research, ICT, among others,” he added.
The Deputy President asked the business community in Kenya to diversify their trade so as to bridge the negative balance of trade with China.
On his part, Mr Peng insisted he would want to make Kenya-China relations flourish.
“If Kenyans have concerns about the Chinese, let us know; we must follow the order of the locals,” he argued, adding that Chinese should not do the work that can be done by Kenyans.
He said China would not let a few people to cause trouble that may ultimately ruin the cordial relationship.
This comes after four Chinese nationals in Lodwar were nabbed for allegedly assaulting a roads engineer.
According to Peng, China stresses the need for its citizens working or investing in foreign countries to maintain law and order just as they do in their home country.
“We will not hesitate to punish our citizens found breaking the law,” Peng said during the Sixth Press Club meeting organised by the Kenya Editors Guild.
The arrest of the four, Liu Jiang, Wang Kai, Zhao Liangbin and Li Shaoqing comes in the wake of protests by 400 workers employed by the Chinese contractors.
China Railway Engineering Group Company Limited officials are accused of attacking Eng Rodgers Imasa, who was inspecting the Loichangamak-Lodwar road on Friday.
The envoy’s statement follows the order by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to deport 17 foreigners over their involvement in illegal gambling business in the country.
According to the CS, the foreigners were in the country without the relevant work permits. Those ejected consisted of Chinese, Turkish and Spanish nationals.
On Monday while speaking during a Betting Control and Licensing Board stakeholders’ forum at the Kenya School of Government (KSG), Matiang’i stated that the government would not allow people to come into the country and engage in unlawful businesses.
He noted that some foreigners had the habit of applying for work permits for different businesses and ended up engaging in gambling.
He warned those running gambling businesses without licenses risked deportation.
In his address, Matiang’i directed the State Department for Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa to review the work permits of all foreigners doing business in the country.
Kenya has the highest number of betting youth, according to a recent GeoPoll rapid survey carried out among youth between the ages of 17-35 in Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.