Authorities in Lodwar on Tuesday arrested four Chinese nationals accused of assaulting a Kenyan roads engineer in Turkana.
The four are Liu Jiang, Wang Kai, Zhao Liangbin and Li Shaoqing. They were hiding in a house at Kilomita 54 area in Lochore-Emoit, Turkana South.
The arrests come in the wake of protests by 400 workers employed by the Chinese contractors.
The workers alleged that the four Chinese men beat up Rodgers Imasia at the construction site of Loichangamak-Lodwar road last week Friday.
Reportedly, Imasia, who was inspecting the road, questioned its quality before one of the Chinese nationals attempted to bribe him. When he declined to accept the bribe, the Chinese attacked him with kicks and blows.
Lodwar Officer Commanding Police Station David Mutengi said the suspects went into hiding after committing the offense. They were arrested in Turkana South in the wee hours of Tuesday morning as they attempted to leave the county to evade arrest, said the officer.
“We are probing the matter and we shall charge the suspects with assault and causing bodily harm,” Mutengi said.
The suspects who are being detained at a Turkana police post will be arraigned today in the afternoon.
On Monday, Kenyan workers protested increased cases of assault and mistreatment by their Chinese counterparts.
Construction workers chairman Wilberforce Dida said several workers have been attacked by the Chinese workers over minor mistakes during construction.
“Many of us are being assaulted every day. The company is not taking workers’ safety measures seriously. We have cases where 15 local workers have been injured while on duty,” he claimed.
Workers’ spokesman Joseph Kimtai added, “It is unfortunate and disrespectful that someone can attack a government official who is also the representative in a construction project.”
