China Construction and Communications Company (CCCC) has defended its operations on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2A (Naivasha-Nairobi) project, saying it has employed an initial 1,224 residents from Kiambu, Nakuru and Narok counties at its sub-section 3 office based in Kikuyu area.
Currently, the contractor says it has already employed 5,265 Kenyan employees as at the end of 2017 for the second phase, who are currently working in the Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Mai Mahiu, Suswa and Nachu sub stations.
Steve Zhao, spokesperson at the Kenya SGR Project head office, noted more employment opportunities will open up once massive construction commences. “The project is currently on its initial stage as we conduct geological and preliminary works. As the project advances, we will recruit more people to meet the construction needs.”
Kenya Railways Corporation has already completed the Relocation Action Plan (RAP) and notified the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) of the impending acquisition of land by the National Lands Commission (NLC). The NLC has already gazetted sections of the corridor signalling the commencement of acquisition.
Mr Zhao reiterated the contractor’s commitment in ensuring the welfare of the employees is given priority. CCCC has so far facilitated temporary accommodation units for its employees who would prefer to reside close to the camp. Transport arrangements have also been improved with sub section office No. 3 located in Kikuyu, providing seven 50-seater buses to ferry the employees to and from work.
The Nairobi – Naivasha phase of the SGR project will pass through five counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Kiambu, Nakuru and Narok. It will feature five newly-built stations at Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Mai Mahiu, Suswa and Nachu. There will be 27 bridges in different sizes, 17.3km altogether and accounting for 14.4% of the total project length. Six percent of the line will consist three tunnels totalling 7.147 km.
Throughout the design, construction, operation and management of the SGR project, CCCC says it has supported the local communities with a cross-section of corporate social responsibility projects. Until now, over 70 CSR activities have been organised, including the drilling of boreholes, donation of learning materials to local schools, community road and bridge repairs and environmental conservation activities.
Work on the project has been marred in recent days following protests by about 1,000 workers Satellite Site in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha, who were demanding better pay and means of transport.
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The protests led to the shooting of one person as the situation threatened to get out of hand. There have been contradictory reports on the fate of the workers, who were said to have been sacked.
Naivasha MP Jane Kihara blamed the project manager for the mess, warning that things could get worse in the coming days if the residents are not heard. Kihara said the contractor failed to recognise a committee elected by workers and residents and was instead was working with cartels.
“The majority of those employed are not from this area and the project manager is working with a cartel leading to crafty deals,” she said.
