China Roads and Bridges Corporation has refuted claims it mistreats Kenyan SGR workers.
The company stated that the information published by the Standard newspaper was misleading to the public.
CRBC reiterated that since its inception in 1984, it has upheld its principles of putting local employees in the first place.
"And over the past 30 years, through diligence and hard-work with our local employees, we have made our contributions to Kenya society and economy," CRBC said in a statement in the local dallies on Wednesday.
The company insisted that it had established a deep friendship with local employees in the past three decades.
"As for our employment policy, CRBC adheres to the principles of care, respect, communication, equality and joint development," it said.
The Chinese firm further dismissed as inaccurate, the number of workers as stated in the said article, stating it only has a total of 2,136 Chinese and 13,482 Kenyan workers.
"The local employees account for 89 per cent of the total," CRBC said, "We would also like to clarify that after the construction of the SGR Phase 1, most of the Chinese employees were not transferred to Phase 2A, instead thy went back to China."
"Only 86 Chinese from the previous construction team were left behind to handle any issues relating to the SGR Phase 1 construction."
The firm, however, acknowledged that cultural differences and communication barriers were a challenge but promised it would seek to resolve the same.
Last week, the Senate summoned Kenya Railways management, Labour CS Ukur Yattani and his transport counterpart James Macharia to respond to the issues raised by the exposé.
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The senators further agreed that Attorney General Paul Kihara, who approves government contracts, would be summoned to explain under what terms the Chinese owned company operates the SGR.
Among the key issues the committee is expected to investigate are racism, violation of rights and freedoms, terms and conditions of Chinese employees vs Kenyan employees and the role of Kenya Railways in the management of the SGR.
On July 9, Kenya Railways MD Attanas Maina said the China Road and Bridge Corporation had been instructed to submit a report within 72 hours on the claims of mistreatment of workers.
Kenya Railways chairman Michael Waweru had refuted claims that SGR workers signed a secret code that restricted them from posting pictures and videos on social media.
This was after government spokesman Eric Kiraithe alluded to this during a press briefing, while responding to reports of mistreatment.
The railway corporation
is expected to submit a report in two weeks time on the findings and the way forward.
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