Social media users have reacted to Starehe MP and singer Charles Njagua who is popularly known as Jaguar’s insulting remarks on foreigners doing business in Gikomba market.
In a video that went viral, the legislator while addressing a crowd threatened to have all foreign traders doing business in Nairobi, deported back to their countries.
“We are not only talking about the six Chinese. We are talking about hundreds of people from other countries who have come to work here and I want to state today that I’m giving the government 24 hours. If those people will not have gone back to their countries, as MP for this area we will enter their shops, remove them, beat them and take them to the airport. Matiang’i’s job and the Immigration Department will be taking them to the airport and taking them back to where they came from,” he said in the video.
Jaguar further said in the viral video that as traders, they would not allow foreigners to come and spoil business for them urging the government to ensure that locals are not put in a situation where they have to compete with foreigners to do business.
Government denies
His words then forced the government to issue a statement denouncing his remarks, after neighbouring Tanzania took the matter serious and demanded an apology from the Starehe MP and the Government of Kenya.
In a letter by Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna, he reassured foreigners of their safety and that of their property as they do business in Kenya.
After government’s statement, Jaguar took to Twitter where he denied uttering words that would fuel xenophobia, insisting that his words were only meant for the Chinese.
“My sentiments echoed yesterday with a directive to C.S Matiang’i was meant for the Chinese who have invaded our markets making businesses almost unbearable bearing for our citizens. I am not against any regional unions that are meant to promote both local and regional trade,” he said.
His words did not settle well with his followers reacted with mean words directed at the Starehe MP.