Kenyan Restaurant Policy: No Africans at Night
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 24 (UPI) — A Nairobi, Kenya, Chinese restaurant with the name “Chinese Restaurant” has an unusual and possibly illegal policy: no African customers after 5 P.M.
The restaurant, one of many in the Kenyan capital to offer Chinese cuisine and a favorite of Chinese visitors, adopted the plan after it was robbed in 2014 by a gang posing as customers. It extends to anyone not a taxi driver or not accompanied by Chinese, European or Indian patrons.
“We don’t admit Africans that we don’t know because you never know who is Al-Shabaab and who isn’t,” said Esther Zhao, the restaurant’s “relations manager”, a reference to neighboring Somalia’s terrorist organization. “The Chinese people who stay here or come to dine want to feel safe. It is not like it is written on somebody’s face that they are a thug armed with a gun.”
Certain “loyal” African customers, assured of spending at least 20,000 Kenyan shillings ($217) at a meal, remain welcome. A list of prominent Kenyan government leaders are among those who are not.
Government Ombudsman Otiende Amollo was critical of the restaurant’s policy.
“That amounts to racial and ethnic profiling, which is unconstitutional. It has in it the inherent assumption that Africans are inevitably pre-disposed to be robbers. Whatever measures they choose to take to maintain security must be measures that treat people equally irrespective of race, gender or color,” he said, suggesting those turned away can sue on grounds of discrimination, or can file a complaint with Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights.
Zhao said Africans would not feel comfortable in her restaurant after sunset, since it is often booked for private parties by Chinese visitors. “In the future, we are considering to roll out a membership scheme and give cards to some of our loyal African customers so that they can be admitted after 5 P.M.,” she added.
