Kenyans Attacked in Xenophobic Attack Demand Compensation

Kenyans attacked in the most recent xenophobic protests are now demanding compensation from South African authorities.

In the anti-foreigner protests that began on Sunday, September 1st, two Kenyans owning businesses in Gauteng Province were attacked and had their valuables looted and torched.

The Kenya Diaspora in South Africa (Kedasa) said it was working with the High Commission to see that the affected Kenyan nationals are compensated.

Kedasa, through their chairman Godfrey Kamatu, said that they will strive to see that their fellow Kenyans are accorded justice as they were innocent law-abiding citizens.

“One of us has lost his stock of clothes worth about 200,000 rand (Sh1.4 million). That was his entire source of income. Another lost a portion of it, but what is left equally destroyed; it is charred. This was also the end of the month when they would be making good sales,” said Kamatu.

“We want our members compensated and we are seeking the help of the High Commissioner to talk to the authorities,” he said.

It is not the first time the world is witnessing xenophobic attacks in South Africa, but it is the first time the government of Kenya is acknowledging that Kenyans were affected in the most recent one.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma confirmed that the government is working closely with the South African government to ensure the safety of Kenyans.

She expressed her distaste on the attacks and said that hoped that Pan Africanism will prevail over narrow nationalism.

READ ALSO: Over 40 Arrested in Recent Xenophobic Attack in South Africa 

The Kenyan government, in conjunction with Kenyan High Commission, have provided a helpline (+27 12 362 2249/51 or e-mail: info@kenya.org.za.) where Kenyans living in South Africa can report any incidences.

South African protests evoked condemnations from several African countries, with Nigeria, whose citizens were said to have been the most affected, summoning South African High Commissioner in Abuja.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had emergency meetings to help control the protests, saying that the attacks were damaging the country’s image.

“Our people ought to live in harmony. That means that whatever grievances we have, we should solve them democratically rather than attack our African brothers living in our country,” he said.

South African xenophobic attacks have always been fueled by the claims that foreigners ‘take away’ natives’ jobs, and while South Africa is considered Africa’s largest economy, it is characterized by inequalities as the ten percent wealthiest population controls more than two-thirds of the country’s economy.

The unemployment rate in South Africa is currently at 27.1 percent among the entire population.

READ ALSO: The Secret in Helping Kenyan SME is Not in Xenophobia