Residents of Kisumu have accused the contractor at the Sh3.5billion Lapfund housing project of discrimination.
The residents said the contractor, Kisumu Concrete Company is sacking locals working at the project and replacing them with foreigners.
In a petition to Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong'o through Kisumu City Residents Voice Association chairman Audi Ogada, the residents want the matter investigated.
“The callous manner in which local workers are being frustrated, intimidated, sacked and replaced by foreigners especially Chinese and Indians deserves all degree of criticism,” Ogada said.
The contractor through its Chief executive officer Lalji Karsan Lalji denied the allegations saying locals have been given priority.
He said they have followed all the requirements including labour laws in hiring workers.
The Sh3.5billion project will see 1,870 units of houses constructed at Kisumu's 100-year-old Makasembo estate.
Ogada has threatened a boycott of the company's products if the issue is not dealt with.
“If he continues to be favoured then local contractors will have no option but to boycott purchasing his products. He must not be allowed to employ foreigners on jobs that our locals are qualified to do,” Ogada said.
Last year, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project, Lapfund board chairperson Sellestina Kiuluku said locals should be given priority.
She said they have collaborated with the county government to implement and set up low cost and decent housing for residents.
“We are committed to our mandate to invest and manage members’ savings in ventures such as investment in property, to guarantee secured retirement benefits and competitive returns to our members,” Kiuluku said.
The construction works on the 11.6 acre piece of land are expected to take two years to complete after the county government and Lapfund signed a deal last year.
It will comprise one, two and three bedrooms. Under low cost, there will be 180 one-bedroom units, 100 two-bedroom units and 290 three-bedroom units totalling to 570 units with 544 parking lots.
In the medium cost, there will be 600 two-bedroom units and 700 three-bedroom units totalling to 1,300 units with 1,210 parking lots.
The project will consist of amenities such as pre-schools, borehole, ample parking, solar power, high-speed lifts and landscaped gardens as well as communal play areas.
