Beijing frustrated as another Chinese journalist detained in Kenya
Police arrest newspaperman in immigration crackdown – even though they checked his work permit online
A Chinese journalist was briefly detained by Kenyan police on Friday, just days after a raid on another Chinese broadcaster, in an immigration crackdown that has frustrated Beijing embassy officials.
Police entered the Nairobi offices of China Daily newspaper and demanded to see staff documents before hauling deputy bureau chief Liu Hongjie to the police station. This was despite verifying his work permit online.
“His work permit is valid. They even checked it online at his office. But he was still taken away,” said embassy spokesman Zhang Ghang, adding the journalist was later released.
On Wednesday Kenyan police carried out a similar raid on the African headquarters of China Global Television Network (CGTN), briefly detaining eight journalists as well as five other nationals employed in the same building.
The Chinese embassy expressed concern at the increase in detentions of its nationals even though they hold legal documents.
Government spokesman Erick Kiraithe said the raid on CGTN was a “mistake”, without elaborating.