Conflict is looming between Menengai’s Geothermal Development Company and area locals over job opportunities.
The locals claim the company has been neglecting them in terms of job opportunities and instead hiring people from other areas.
Speaking to journalists at Maili Kumi trading centre in Bahati Sub County after holding peaceful demonstrations over the same, the locals from Wanyororo, majority of whom are jobless youths claimed that the company has failed to recognise them.
Led by George Mukera, they vowed not to relent until GDC steps in to address their grievances.
“Since GDC came to this place in 2009, it has been giving us empty promises on jobs. We are here and we will not relent until the matter is addressed,” he said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by David Mwangi and John Thu who claimed that employment at GDC is based on how much money you have. They claimed they have been trying to reach out to the management to be considered for job positions in vain.
They raised concerns over how some individuals who are not residents have continued to get jobs from the Bahati-based Geothermal Company while locals are left out.
“Whatever is happening at GDC is shocking and we believe it has to do with corruption. We wonder who are these getting jobs yet as locals we are left out,” they said.
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri noted that indeed the company had failed to consider locals in issuing out jobs. He faulted the current GDC management for going against the interests of the locals.
The legislator called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene in the matter and ensure that youths from Bahati and more so Wanyororo where GDC is based are able to benefit from the company.
“The current leadership at GDC has failed to listen to the interests of the locals. Youths have no jobs yet we had previously agreed on how the matter can be solved. We call on the president to intervene,” said Ngunjiri.
Attempts to get a comment from GDC proved futile as the communication department didn't pick our calls.