More than 500 disgruntled protestors from Dadaab Constituency yesterday staged a protest against the World Food Program and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees over what they said is sacking of the local employees in favour of people from other areas.
The protestors waved placards critizing the two agencies before trying to storm a UNHCR office. They were however stopped by anti-riot police squad that arrived on time. The protestors however managed to bring the camp that houses Somali refugees to a standstill as they could not allow the agencies' vehicles in or out of the camp.
"We took our papers but no local could secure a job there. What they have done is to sack the few they had employed yet we host the refugees", said Kin Gedi, a protestor. Mohammed Adan a youth leader said: "More than 60% of Dadaab job opportunities have been given to people from Fafi yet we local youths are jobless".
Louis Sowe, the WFP co-ordinator in the Kenya denied the claims saying that the agency discriminates no one. "We follow an international guideline when hiring our staffs and we do not descriminate against anyone", she said.