Kwale residents cry foul over Makamini dam jobs

Residents of Kinango in Kwale county have accused the contractor of the Sh1.2 billion Makamini dam of leaving out residents in jobs.

They claim the contractor is outsourcing workers from other counties to do casual jobs.

Project committee chairperson Lawrence Malawi said despite the assurance that at least 70 per cent of the jobs would be reserved for residents, the contractor has ignored them.

"Whatever is going on here is demoralising because residents are not benefiting from this project as it was presumed because jobs are given to other people," he said.

Malawi said residents camp at the construction site every day hoping to be hired, but are told there are no jobs.

He said the contractor has hired "outsiders" for common jobs like steel cutting and assembling.

Malawi said those who managed to get employment got "inferior jobs" despite having qualifications for skilled work.

Residents also accused the contractor of failing to advertise existing jobs and using unfair hiring processes.

Charles Nyondo alleged that employed residents are poorly paid compared to non-locals.

"The general pay order for the locals is not good. Work that is supposed to be paid a wage of Sh1,500 per day goes for Sh800," he said.

Nyondo said the work is also inconsistent, as residents only get to work one to two times per month.

The irate residents said they gave out their ancestral land for the project knowing they would benefit but this has not been the case.

He said life has become hard because they cannot reclaim their lands and they are not getting employment either.

Residents depend on farming and livestock keeping.

Nyondo said the community is not opposing the project but they are fighting injustices.

"We are not rejecting this grand project but the contractor should follow the due process and agreement signed," he said. 

Kasim Mumba Lugogo said any citizenn has a right to work anywhere in Kenya but should not be exaggerated to the extent of causing pain to the affected families.

He said the law on equal employment opportunities should be applicable for both non-locals and residents to benefit and live in peace.

"We are peace-loving people and that's why we gave land for development. We don't want any trouble. I call for fair treatment in the issuance of jobs," he said.

Residents said denying them work was disrespectful and asked the authorities to intervene to prevent further problems.

But project manager Wang Zhipeng from China Jiangxi International Kenya Limited, denied all the allegations.

Zhipeng said the actual work has not yet started and there are few jobs to offer.

He said they are still mapping, designing and noting down the necessary equipment for the job, which requires few people.

"The work has not commenced, we are waiting for the design but we have considered the locals and hired them as drivers, cleaners and watchmen," he said.

Zhipeng said most of the non-locals who have been hired have worked with the company for a long time and have gained skills in operating sophisticated machines.

He said since the project is still at the designing stage, the majority of the job involves paperwork and skilled professionals. 

Zhipeng said he tried to hire some residents to run heavy machines but they ended up causing losses.

The project manager said some residents want employment without being taken through the interview process, something that is against the law and the company's working principles.

"I can't employ somebody who is not qualified for the hitech jobs. They must prove that they can deliver because when they mess here I will be the one taking the blame and losses," he said.

Zhipeng, however, said they are certain jobs they can train both skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled without problems.

The manager said he hires people and pays them as per the country's labour law and does not exploit anyone.

He urged residents to be patient, saying more jobs will be available once construction starts fully.

The Makamini dam is funded by the national government through the Coast Water Works Development Agency.

Phase one was launched in June by Water Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki and Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya,

Once completed, the project is expected to address water shortage and improve food security and hygiene.

It will be the second-largest dam in the region after the Mwache dam in Fulugani and is projected to serve more than 40,000 Makamini residents.

Edited by A.N