Image copyright Chandarana Foodplus Image caption The supermarket says the incident has led to it “serious embarrassment”
A Kenyan supermarket has defied an order to close after being caught up in a race row.
An email leaked on social media confirmed it was launching a campaign to focus on white shoppers.
The governor of Nairobi then directed that the trading licence for Chandarana Foodplus, the country’s oldest supermarket, be revoked.
The store apologised after a backlash on Twitter, but its shops remain open.
Chandarana Foodplus blamed the blunder on new staff whose English used to be poor.
The offending e mail mentioned: “we’re overjoyed to inform you that our supermarkets chain, would love give you free gift vouchers to winner/raffles/perfect performer/runners-up candidates in your upcoming events. As we are now that specialize in white other folks to draw our supermarkets.”
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko sent a statement to newsrooms on Sunday saying that he had ordered county officers to near down Chandarana Foodplus branches within the capital the next day.
However, local media are reporting that industry is going on as usual on the 13 retail outlets in the town.
BUSINESS as same old at Chandarana Supermarkets despite Sonko saying cancellation of its licenses over ‘racial bias’. pic.twitter.com/GbImqqtf1K
— CapitalFM Breaking Information (@BreakingNewsKE) July 30, 2018
Finish of Twitter publish through @BreakingNewsKE
The legality of Mr Sonko’s directive has also been wondered.
“That motion isn’t prison. There should be due procedure. they should have been summoned for a listening to ahead of taking action,” constitutional professional Nzamba Kitonga instructed the Daily Nation newspaper.
The supermarket published an announcement on Twitter announcing that the incident got here as “a severe embarrassment”.
But the apology has failed to assuage a few Kenyans on Twitter.
Great apology letter however harm is already done.The proven fact that you have an worker that may write such an e-mail says such a lot in regards to the firms take care of racial profiling.very sad.
— James Mccreadie (@mojemccreadie) July 28, 2018
End of Twitter put up by means of @mojemccreadie
