First, it is sad that some of the demonstrators exhibited naked racism by attacking Asians because Mehta Group is Asian-owned.

In Kenya, just like in Uganda, though Asians are a minority, they sit at the top of the economic pyramid. In this regard they provide employment and contribute to economic growth.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), however, has received complaints against some Asian employers who underpay their employees and subject them to verbal and physical abuses.

Though the different races in Kenya have largely co-existed peacefully in the recent past, the experience from Uganda has shown that it only takes one seemingly insignificant incident for subdued racial, tribal or religious bigotry to rear their ugly heads, especially when egged on by hate speech.

Second, that two of the rioters in Uganda were shot dead by armed private security guards should perhaps reignite the old debate over whether Kenyan private security guards should be allowed to carry guns. Supporters of the move argue that private security guards should carry firearms since their batons are no match to the increasingly ruthless armed criminals. Opponents,on the other hand, say that arming private security guards will worsen insecurity due to the increased firearms that will be in circulation.