A Safaricom customer care center. [Photo: kenyanwallstreet.com]
Elected leaders in Uasin Gishu county have raised concerns over what they claim is Safaricom's failure to give job opportunities to locals.
This is in relation to a customer care center that is set to be unveiled in Eldoret town before the end of this year which is expected to create about 1,000 jobs.
Led governor Jackson Mandago and the County Assembly leader of majority Josphat Lowoi, the leaders accused the telecommunications giant of 'ferrying' people from outside the county to take up job opportunities that can be done by local youths.
Speaking in Eldoret during the Jamhuri day celebrations, the two insisted that locals must be given first priority in any investments across the county.
"Safaricom has brought in over 400 people from outside to do jobs they claim our people cannot handle while we have hundreds of young men and women educated and well trained on matters related to ICT," Mandago said.
"I want to ask the Safaricom people to come to my office so that we can discuss this matter and reach an amicable solution," he added.
Similar sentiments were shared by the Uasin Gishu County Assembly leader of the majority who said 70 percent of jobs in companies and investments within the county must be allocated for the locals.
"We also have people who want jobs and as leaders, we cannot accept others to be ferried from outside while our very own equally qualified remain jobless," said the Karuna/Mibeki MCA.
When he was in Eldoret on Friday, Safaricom foundation chairman Joseph Ogutu said the facility was a regional center and they had employed people from across the North Rift region.