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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Kericho governor directs contractor to hire locals in housing project

Rift Valley

By Nikko Tanui | Sep 17, 2024

President William Ruto lays a foundation stone for the construction of the Talai Affordable Housing Project in Kericho county. [File, Standard]

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai has directed the contractor of Affordable Housing project in Majengo to hire local skilled youths.

Dr Mutai said local mansons, carpenters and artisans must be given priority.

This comes following claims that non-residents were being hired for menial jobs.

The governor issued the directive after a section of traders staged a protest at the construction site located in the outskirts of Kericho town on Monday, claiming that the contractor had ferried workers from outside the region.

The government through the Department of Housing is currently constructing 400 housing units at Majengo at a cost of Sh778.3 million.

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The majengo affordable housing project site, is among three such sites in Kericho county.

Speaking at the site, Mutai confirmed that the supervisor informed him that the workers in question were skilled laborers brought in by a subcontractor.
However, he acknowledged the concerns raised and vowed to take action immediately.

“We have agreed that, moving forward, since the contractor lacks the capacity to identify skilled and other workers, the County Department of Public Works will provide a list of contractors capable of handling the necessary tasks,” Mutai said.

The governor expressed concern that the current workforce of 300 skilled youths at the site falls short of the presidential directive to employ 500 youth per construction site.

“The contractor must address the shortfall of 200 workers by employing local youth, particularly graduates from our vocational training centers, especially those under the Equalizer Vocational Training Scholarship,” he said.

Mutai emphasized that the wages of Sh500 for daily laborers and Sh1,000 for semi-skilled workers would provide much-needed economic relief for the local youth.

The Majengo Affordable Housing Project will have 400 units, comprising of 150 one-bedroom houses, 150 two-bedroom houses, and 100 three-bedroom houses. The Nyagacho project will deliver more than 600 housing units.

Governor Mutai also urged Kericho residents to begin registering for the houses through the Boma Yangu platform to ensure they are given first priority when the houses are complete.