Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian has claimed she was racially profiled while seeking services at the German Embassy in Nairobi.
In a statement on Facebook on Wednesday, March 25, the Senator said she was kept waiting for several hours outside the embassy gates while white visitors were allowed entry.
“It is very embarrassing that I am still sitting at the gate for hours. Only your fellow white people were allowed through your gates,” Lemaletian stated. “If you treat a Senator like this, I wonder how much worse it is for our Kenyan citizens. I witnessed racism first hand.”
She also expressed frustration over delayed responses to her emails regarding her visa application, calling for the immediate return of her passport.
“Can I get my passport back since emails are completely a waste of time? My passport is a property of the Republic of Kenya and not of Germany,” she said. “It is indeed one country I have never wished to visit, and God forbid that I will ever visit it in this lifetime.”
Mixed Reactions
The Senator’s comments have divided public opinion. Some social media users supported her claims and called for fair treatment of all applicants, while others questioned whether she expected special treatment due to her political position.
Embassy Yet to Respond
The German Embassy in Nairobi has not responded to the allegations.
Broader Context
Germany is a key destination for Kenyan workers following bilateral labour agreements that allow Kenyans to live and work in the country.
The embassy has also been recruiting Kenyan professionals in fields such as engineering, IT, healthcare, hospitality, and specialised trades.
Tags
News