Residents of Timau in Meru County staged demonstrations on Wednesday, January 15, protesting their alleged exclusion from President William Ruto’s Affordable Housing Project.
The protesters accused the site manager of discriminatory hiring practices, claiming that locals from the Meru community were being sidelined in favor of workers from other regions, contrary to laws requiring government projects to allocate the majority of jobs to area residents.
“There are no locals employed at the site. When we raise our concerns, a few locals are temporarily hired to pacify us, but it’s clear the discrimination persists,” one protester said.
Another added, “The law mandates that 70 percent of jobs go to local residents, but this has been blatantly ignored. All locals who were previously employed have been dismissed, and the positions have been filled by workers from Ukambani.”
The protesters also alleged rampant corruption, claiming that bribes were being solicited in exchange for employment opportunities. One individual shared their experience of being asked for money to secure a position as a metal worker, while others reported similar incidents.
A local woman expressed frustration at being barred from selling goods at the construction site, alleging that only younger women were being allowed to do so without any valid explanation.
In response, the site manager acknowledged the grievances raised during the protest and promised to look into the matter. “We will investigate these claims, especially regarding the requirement to hire 70 percent local workers. While weekly rotations aren’t feasible, we must ensure everyone gains necessary skills over time,” he stated.
President William Ruto, during the launch of the Affordable Housing Project, announced plans to create over 250,000 jobs annually through the initiative. The project aims to build between 50,000 and 70,000 affordable homes each year, providing opportunities for homeownership, particularly for slum dwellers in Nairobi County, within the next five years.
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