Governor wants local youth hired in housing project

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai. [File, Standard]

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai has directed the contractor of an affordable housing project to give priority to local youth when hiring.

Mutai said masons, carpenters and artisans from the area should be hired.

This comes following claims that non-residents were working in the project.

The governor issued the directive after a section of traders staged a protest at the construction site located at the outskirts of Kericho Town on Monday, claiming 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.

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

Speaking at the site, Mutai said the supervisor informed him that the workers in question were skilled laborers brought in by a sub-contractor.

However, he acknowledged the concerns raised by residents and promised to take action immediately.

"We have agreed that 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 said the current workforce of 300 skilled youths 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 centres," he said.