Mnajiita mmeendelea embu anagalia mnavyokeketwa soma hyo.
Beneath the shiny veneer of SGR is a tale of pain and anguish for a multitude of Kenyans. [Paul Wafula, Standard]
The Standard Gauge Railway has made the journey from Kenya's capital Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa easier. The chugging of the locomotive engine across the Tsavo wilderness to finally descend towards the Indian Ocean is a thing to marvel at.
The Chinese crew on board cuts the image of the humble servant but there is a huge contrast between what happens when in public glare and what really goes on in private. [Photo: Paul Wafula, Standard]
The coaches are almost always spotless, smiling staff willing you on board. To an outsider, the Chinese crew on board cuts the image of a humble servant, ready to please. They will hardly say a word whenever top government officials convene press conferences in their presence to celebrate another of their milestones.
But beneath this shiny veneer is a tale of pain, anguish and broken dreams for a multitude of Kenyans who feel trapped on the train that ably fits the moniker Orient Express, because on it, Chinese nationals have created a small kingdom in which they run roughshod over Kenyan workers who say they are experiencing neo-colonialism, racism and blatant discrimination as the taxpayer foots the Sh30million a day bill for the train, whcih losely translates to Sh1billion at the end of every month.
Kenyan SGR crew doing menial jobs.They end up being paid less than a quarter of what their Chinese counterparts earn for the same job. [Photo: Paul Wafula, Standard]
Investigations by The Sunday Standard have found a huge contrast between what happens when in public glare and what really goes on beneath the shiny surface when the Chinese- masters of the SGR- retire to their apartments and restaurant.
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Interviews with many of those working within the trains reveal that there exists an unwritten rule on the things that Kenyans can share with their Chinese masters.
The Kenyan crew is not allowed at a Chinese table. [Photo: Paul Wafula, Standard]
For a start, they do not share tables at their staff restaurant.
Though, it is not printed in black and white, Chinese staff would never sit on the same table with Kenyans and Kenyans are not expected to join their tables either.
Chinese SGR staff dining in one of the halls. No Kenyan is allowed to join them. [ Paul Wafula, Standard]
“Racism is so real here. There is an unwritten rule of where you need to sit. You cannot just join the Chinese table,” an assistant locomotive driver said.
He said that this divide runs to the staff vans as well where even if it only one Chinese on board, Kenyans will not use them when time for drop offs come.
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“You cannot board a van that drops us in the evening even if there's only one Chinese on board.
Hata hivyo huo ukame ni huko karibu na Ethiopia na sio karibu na Parliament