Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has approved criminal charges against the Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), Gichunge Kabeabea, following investigations alleging he demanded and received a bribe from a business owner.

In a statement released on Monday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had on November 14, 2025, submitted an inquiry file containing evidence implicating the ACA boss in corrupt dealings.

The DPP said his office had conducted a comprehensive and independent review of the material before arriving at the decision to prosecute.

“The ODPP reaffirms its commitment to executing its mandate independently, fairly, and in strict accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Kenya,” the office stated.

Alleged Demand for KSh5 Million Bribe

According to the inquiry file, investigators alleged that Kabeabea demanded a KSh5 million bribe from a business proprietor in exchange for halting an investigation and preventing the arrest of the businessman and his employees.

The DPP further noted that evidence before his office indicates that Kabeabea received KSh150,000 as part of the alleged transaction.

After reviewing the case pursuant to Section 35 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, Ingonga concluded that the evidence met the legal threshold necessary to sustain criminal charges.

The ODPP said the material submitted by EACC sufficiently established the elements of the offence of bribery as defined under Section 6(1)(a) of the Anti-Bribery Act, 2023.

EACC Conducts Search Operation

The charging decision comes days after the EACC conducted search operations at Kabeabea’s residence and offices as part of ongoing investigations into alleged bribery, extortion of investors, and unexplained wealth.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said the searches were conducted under valid court orders, adding that a detailed briefing would be provided in due course.

A search warrant issued by the Chief Magistrate’s Anti-Corruption Court at Milimani, dated November 13, 2025, authorised EACC investigator John Nyagara — or any other appointed investigator — to access and search two locations linked to the ACA chairman.

The warrant allowed officers to obtain and seize records, documents, electronic devices and other materials relevant to the ongoing inquiry. It also permitted the use of reasonable force where necessary.

With the DPP now approving charges, Kabeabea is expected to be formally arraigned once the ODPP and EACC finalise necessary procedural steps. The case adds to a series of high-profile corruption investigations targeting senior public officials as agencies intensify efforts to enforce accountability in public institutions.

The Chinese Embassy in Nairobi has strongly condemned a viral video showing a Chinese national assaulting a Kenyan colleague at a private company, describing the behaviour as “unacceptable” and contrary to the conduct expected of Chinese citizens working abroad.

In a statement released on Monday, the Embassy said it was “extremely disappointed” by the confrontation, which has sparked widespread outrage among Kenyans on social media.

“We have noticed a video circulating online showing a Chinese worker at a private company assaulting his Kenyan colleague. We are extremely disappointed to see such an incident occur,” the Embassy said.

According to the Embassy, the management of the company involved has already terminated the contract of the Chinese employee seen in the recording and is considering additional disciplinary actions.

Embassy: Chinese Citizens Must Respect Kenyan Laws and Culture

The mission reiterated that it consistently instructs Chinese nationals living and working in Kenya to strictly observe the country’s laws, regulations, and cultural norms.

“The Embassy consistently requires Chinese citizens in Kenya to strictly abide by local laws, regulations, and cultural customs, and the vast majority of them do so,” the statement added.

While terming the altercation an isolated incident, the Embassy warned that it should not be used to damage the longstanding investment and commercial cooperation between Kenya and China.

“We believe this isolated incident should not affect investment cooperation between Chinese and Kenyan companies, but it is a reminder to all Chinese citizens in Kenya to uphold the principle of mutual respect with Kenyan friends,” the mission noted.

The Embassy said it would continue engaging relevant authorities as the company handles the matter internally.

COTU Demands Deportation of Chinese Nationals Accused of Worker Abuse

The Embassy’s statement follows rising pressure from the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), which has demanded the immediate deportation of two Chinese nationals accused of mistreating Kenyan workers in separate incidents in the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and in Eldoret.

In letters addressed to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli described the incidents as blatant violations of Kenyan workers’ dignity.

Atwoli accused Xiao Jianzhong, a Chinese investor operating within the EPZ, of subjecting employees to harsh and unlawful conditions. According to the Tailors and Textile Workers Union, workers under Xiao’s supervision were forced to work long hours without overtime pay, restricted from accessing toilets, and compelled to sing Chinese songs before, during, and after work.

“These practices flagrantly violate Kenya’s labour laws and international labour standards, creating an environment of fear and intimidation that results in psychological and physical distress,” Atwoli wrote.

In another letter to Interior CS Murkomen, the COTU boss raised concerns over a viral video allegedly showing a Chinese manager at TCM Mabati Factory in Eldoret assaulting a Kenyan worker — the same incident that triggered the Embassy’s condemnation.

“We will not stand by and watch the dignity of Kenyan workers violated by some rogue foreign employers,” Atwoli said, demanding immediate deportation of the individuals involved.

He warned that failure to take action would erode Kenyan workers’ trust in government institutions.

Calls for Stronger Oversight

COTU also urged the Interior Ministry, alongside the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and enforcement measures in businesses operated by foreign nationals.

As public debate intensifies, both the Kenyan government and the Chinese Embassy are facing growing pressure to ensure accountability and protect workers’ rights in multicultural workplaces across the country.

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko was on Saturday involved in a dramatic confrontation with his son-in-law after receiving a distress call from one of his daughters, who claimed she had been physically assaulted by her husband.

In a video shared on his social media platforms, Sonko said he rushed to his daughter’s home immediately after she called her mother in tears, alleging that her husband had slapped her during a disagreement over breakfast.

“Today, we received a distress call from our daughter that shook us to the core — her voice trembling, her spirit broken,” Sonko said. “As a parent, nothing prepares you for the moment your child reaches out in fear, in pain, or in desperation. I acted immediately, because no mother or father can sit still when their child is hurting.”

Heated Confrontation Caught on Camera

Upon arriving at the couple’s home, Sonko and his team confronted the son-in-law, who remained silent when asked to explain why he had allegedly hit his wife. The former governor revealed during the exchange that he had been supporting the couple financially — paying rent, school fees, groceries, and even purchasing a Range Rover for them.

Sonko expressed shock that despite such support, his daughter could still be subjected to domestic violence. He questioned what this meant for other women across Kenya who have far fewer resources or support systems.

“If my own daughter can face harassment in her own home, what about the countless young women and men in Kenya who suffer silently, with no one to defend them?” he posed.

Calls for Victims to Seek Help

Sonko urged victims of domestic violence not to suffer in silence, noting that many hospitals, including those in low-income areas, offer services for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

Despite emotions running high during the confrontation, Sonko restrained his team from retaliating physically, insisting that violence would not resolve the situation.

At the end of the standoff, he left with his daughter and issued a stern warning to his son-in-law to never lay a hand on her again. However, he noted that he remained open to a calm and honest discussion with him in the future.

Sonko’s Message to Young Couples

In a heartfelt reflection, Sonko shared a message to young couples, urging them to approach marital challenges with maturity and dialogue rather than aggression.

“Marriage is never a smooth road. It is built through storms and sunshine, through patience, forgiveness, and understanding,” he said. “But when challenges turn into violence, when love turns into fear, then the foundation of that marriage is shaken. No one deserves that.”

He encouraged couples to choose peace and communication over anger.

“Choose dialogue before anger. Pause, breathe, and talk — rather than hurt the person you vowed to protect. Violence doesn’t solve anything; it only destroys the heart, the home, and the future.”

The incident has sparked fresh conversations about domestic violence in Kenya, highlighting the importance of support systems, intervention, and open dialogue in safeguarding victims.

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a stern warning that future conflicts could erupt in Africa if landlocked countries continue to be denied access to the Indian Ocean—a critical route for trade and strategic defence.

Speaking on Sunday, November 9, President Museveni described the current situation as unjust, saying it is irrational for coastal countries to claim exclusive ownership of the ocean while their landlocked neighbours remain restricted from access.

“How can you say that you are in a block of flats and that the compound belongs only to the flats on the ground floor? That compound belongs to the whole block,” Museveni said, as quoted by Daily Monitor.
“Uganda is landlocked inside here. But where is my ocean? My ocean is the Indian Ocean. It belongs to me. I am on the top floor of the block, and then you say the compound belongs only to those on the ground floor. This is madness.”

‘I Am Entitled to the Ocean’

The Ugandan leader compared Africa’s geographic layout to a condominium building, arguing that all African nations, regardless of location, should have shared access to the ocean. He noted that restricting ocean access not only hampers trade but also undermines regional security and self-sufficiency.

Museveni lamented that Uganda’s landlocked position has made it impossible for the country to develop a naval defence force, leaving it dependent on neighbouring coastal states.

“In Uganda, even if you want to build a navy, how can you build it? We don’t have access to the sea,” he said. “The political organisation in Africa is so irrational. Some countries have no access to the sea, not only for economic purposes but also for defence purposes. You are stuck.”

Tensions Over Infrastructure and Trade

Museveni also highlighted the recurring challenges Uganda faces in negotiating with Kenya over key trade infrastructure projects—such as railways and oil pipelines—that depend on ocean access.

“That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya. This one stops, another comes. The railway and the pipeline—we discuss. But that ocean belongs to me. Because it is my ocean. I am entitled to that ocean,” he asserted.

The president warned that if African nations fail to address the issue of equitable ocean access, it could become a source of future wars on the continent.

His comments have sparked widespread discussion across East Africa, with some observers interpreting them as a call for regional integration and fairer trade policies, while others view them as a subtle criticism of Kenya’s control over access routes to the Indian Ocean.

Museveni’s remarks come amid ongoing regional efforts to strengthen the East African Community (EAC) and improve infrastructure links between landlocked and coastal member states.