Court stops deportation of Chinese contractors as war escalates

Kenya has been temporarily barred from deporting, arresting or intimidating employees of a CCECC after orders were issued by the High Court in Kisumu following a petition filed by CCECC) and its employees challenging the award CRBC.

In the case, CCECC sued Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Immigration Services Director-General Evelyn Cheluget, Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja and Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, accusing State agencies of harassment and unlawful deportation of its staff.

According to court documents, the company claimed that two of its officials were deported on March 13, 2026, in a move aimed at pressuring the firm to withdraw its appeal against the tender outcome by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).

In its petition, CCECC, alongside its employees Wang Xu, Li Wei, Li Fangyi and Zhang Hongze, alleged that its staff had been subjected to intimidation and harassment to force the company to abandon its legal challenge, effectively clearing the way for CRBC to proceed with the contract.

The court granted a temporary injunction restraining the government and its agents from taking any adverse action against the petitioners pending the hearing and determination of the case.

“A temporary injunction is hereby issued restraining the respondents, by themselves, their agents, departments, and/or persons acting under their authority, from harassing, intimidating, threatening, detaining, mistreating, and/or deporting the petitioners until further orders of this court,” the order reads in part.

The dispute has further drawn political attention, with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleging that the deportation of the Chinese officials was intended to influence the procurement outcome.

Speaking at an interdenominational church service in Gatanga, Murang’a County, Gachagua claimed that the government favoured a higher bid despite the availability of a lower offer, potentially costing taxpayers an additional Sh7 billion.

“There is a project called Railway City funded by the British government. A Chinese company quoted Sh22 billion and won, but another quoted Sh29 billion. The difference of Sh7 billion is what they want to use,” he alleged.

Gachagua further claimed that directors of the lower-bidding firm were deported to prevent them from pursuing their case at the procurement appeals tribunal, accusations that have not been independently verified in court.

The Railway City project, partly funded by the United Kingdom government, which has pledged Sh11.9 billion—about 39 per cent of the total cost—is a flagship development aimed at transforming Nairobi’s central business district. It will involve the construction of a modern railway station, office blocks, shopping malls and a light industrial hub on a 13-acre parcel of land owned by Kenya Railways.

The case is expected to test both the integrity of public procurement processes and the protection of investors and foreign workers involved in major infrastructure projects.