All workers at the Mombasa Central Railways Station once it is open, should be from the county, Senator Miraj Abdillahi has said.
She said Mombasa has to benefit from the resources it has.
“Mr President, I know you are listening to me live from State House. SGR has reached Mvita. We ask that 100 per cent of the people who will be working at the Mombasa Central Railways station to be from Mombasa. That is the cry of my people,” Abdillahi said.
She spoke at Tononoka Hall on Monday where she distributed water tanks, water pumps, sufurias, chairs, car wash machines, carts, among other items, to empower women and youth economically.
The Kenya Railways Corporation is finalising the refurbishment of the railways station, which stopped operating on Friday, April 28, 2017, with the last train departing Nairobi for Mombasa.
This marked the end of the old colonial-era, metre-gauge "Lunatic Express" overnight sleeper train.
The new standard-gauge railway opened on May 31, 2017, replacing the old system.
The refurbishment of the station and construction of the metre-gauge railway that will link the SGR’s Mombasa terminus at Miritini and the Central Business District cost about Sh4.2 billion.
Her sentiments came two weeks after Mvita MP Mohamed Machele made similar remarks.
Speaking on May 28 at Ronald Ngala Primary School during the commissioning of an ICT hub, he urged the national government to ensure Mombasa youth benefit from job opportunities at the Mombasa Central Railways Station.
Machele said too often, people from outside the region are brought to work on projects while residents are overlooked.
“This must change. Mombasa youth need to be prioritised in employment,” the Mvita MP said.
“We have the new MGR train project. Mombasa people must benefit from the job opportunities created by this project."
“This is not a request, it is a demand. The project is a national asset, yes, but the majority of the workforce should come from Mombasa, especially since the infrastructure is being developed here,” Machele said.
However, Senator Abdillahi’s sentiments are likely to elicit sharp reactions from various quarters.
This is because the constitution promotes equality and prohibits discrimination in employment.
This ensures individuals have equal opportunities regardless of the region they come from.
Article 27 of the constitution guarantees the right to equality and freedom from discrimination. This prohibits the state from discriminating against anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity or social origin.
Article 41 ensures fair labour practices and the right to equal opportunities in employment, meaning everyone should have a fair chance to compete for jobs, regardless of where they come from.
Muslims for Human Rights director Khelef Khalifa told the Star there is a thin line between discrimination and empowerment of residents.
“In essence, the Kenyan constitution strives to create a system where employment opportunities are based on merit and fair competition, without discrimination based on regional origin,” he said.
Senator Abdillahi explained that based on the cosmopolitan nature of Mombasa, there is almost a guarantee that employing people from Mombasa will still realise a national face.
She said the Coast, especially Mombasa, has people from different regions who live and work together, without much consideration of where one comes from.
“We are married to Luos and Kambas. We have become one. If you want to know how many communities are in Kenya, come to Mombasa and see for yourself,” Abdillahi said.
She said it is highly probable that all the skills and technical abilities needed to ensure the soon-to-be-reopened Mombasa Central Railway Station operates smoothly, efficiently and effectively, are found in Mombasa.
