A Chinese restaurant in Kenya has put a ban on African customers, after 5pm, saying that they pose a security threat to other guests. They say that; 'guests of the restaurant feel safer and more comfortable' if Africans are kept away, with only taxi drivers and Africans accompanied by European, Chinese or Indian guests can be admitted into the eatery after 5pm.
The restaurant in Nairobi, the country’s capital, made the decision after an armed robbery last year and recent warnings from the Chinese embassy over the Al-Qaeda-linked extremist youth group, Al Shabaab’s, increased threat, according to local reports.
The restaurant’s PR Manager, Esther Zhao, a PR manager, said: "We don’t admit Africans that we don’t know because you never know who is Al-Shabaab and who isn’t.”
She says the guests of the restaurant feel safer and more comfortable if African customers are kept away.
It is said that Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Interior Joseph ole Lenku, and former Education Secretary and presidential candidate Joseph ole Kiyiapi were turned away by the restaurant staff.
The only people allowed in any time are Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju, who are reportedly the owner’s friends.
