Sh2b road project halted as workers down tools in Narok

Workers building the Narok-Sekenani Gate road in Narok County demonstrate against a Chinese construction company over alleged poor pay. (Photo: Robert Kiplagat/Standard)

The mega project leading to the world-famous Maasai Mara was recently launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Construction work on the Narok-Sekenani Gate road was Wednesday halted after over 200 workers at the site downed their tools and demanded a salary increment.

The multi-billion-shilling road project leading to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Game Reserve was recently launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto during a development tour of the county.

The project is expected to boost tourism in the area as the dilapidated state of the road was making it difficult for tourists to access the park.

The workers, comprising plant operators, tipper drivers, masons and casuals, demonstrated outside China Wu Yi Company office in Loita plains and complained of poor pay.

They vowed not to return to work until they received a pay rise.

Represented by Noah Soit, Patrick Soiyantet and Amos Kerongo, the workers complained that they were being paid only Sh311 daily, with Sh150 being deducted for food. This left them with less than Sh6,000 a month.

"We are being oppressed. We do donkey work here and at the end of the month, we are paid less than Sh10,000. We have decided to go on strike today so the company managers know we are fed up with their empty promises," said Mr Soit.

The workers said their salaries had not been increased since they started working last October despite the company promising to do so.

They also claimed that they were being subjected to work throughout the month contrary to their contracts, which they claimed stipulated that they would work for only 18 days a month.

Following concern raised by tour drivers over the poor state of the key tourist road last year, the Ministry of Roads moved in and awarded a Sh2 billion contract for the construction of the 82km road.

Issued memo

Efforts by journalists to get comments from the China Wu Yi Company managers were fruitless as they locked themselves in the office but issued a memo to the striking workers urging them to return to work immediately.

The memo seen by The Standard read: "All the workers who are taking part in the unlawful strike should report back to work immediately without fail. We would like to inform all our employees that for the time you did not work, you will not be paid until you resume work."