Hours after China-Africa summit, this Chinese calls Kenyans and the president ‘monkeys’

A Chinese national in Kenya is in trouble after being caught on a video on Wednesday making disparaging remarks about Kenyans, including their president, Uhuru Kenyatta.

This comes just hours after the end of the China-Africa cooperation summit where the Chinese government demonstrated its commitment to supporting Africa.

The man, named Liu Jiaqi, was recorded in the brief video saying that “all Kenyans [are] like a monkey, even [President] Uhuru Kenyatta”.

The video is reported to have been recorded by an employee of Liu who was about to lose his job.

The employee was heard complaining about unfair treatment by his Chinese employer, but he [employer] interrupted saying he was getting that treatment because he was Kenyan.

“I don’t like here, like a monkey people. I don’t like [to] talk with them. Smells bad and poor… and black. Who like them? Why not the bright people like the Americans?” he added.

“So why are you coming to do business here?” the employee asked.

“For money…money’s important,” he replied.

Following the emergence of the clip online and complaints from many, Liu, who is said to be a motorcycle dealer, was arrested.

According to Kenya’s Immigration Department, Liu’s permit had been cancelled and would be deported on racism grounds.

As at the time of filing this story, Liu had been driven to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for deportation but yet to comment on the development, according to Kenyan media.

In recent years, China has made huge investments in Kenya, such as the new railway linking Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, to the coast.

At the just ended China-Africa summit, Kenyan President Kenyatta expressed his appreciation to China for its “commitment in supporting Kenya’s development goals.”

For such derogatory words to come out of a Chinese national in Kenya to the president right after, has been described as rather unfortunate, and many believed that Liu should have been charged before being processed for deportation.

Here’s how people are reacting to the development: