Kuresoi youth demand jobs at dam construction site

Bulldozers going on with the construction of Itare dam in Kuresoi North in Nakuru county on August 23,2016.The dam which will cover 600 acres will displace more than 14,000 people living in the area.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

Kuresoi and Molo youths have urged the Rift Valley Water and Services Board to ensure that they get 30 per cent of the jobs in the multi-billion-shilling Itare dam project.

 The youths, who turned up at the construction site in Ndoinet Forest, claimed the Italian company in charge of the construction had hired youths from others areas instead of giving the locals priority.

The rowdy youths threatened to hold demonstrations and disrupt the ongoing works if their demands were not met.

Segut Cheruiyot, a youth leader in the area, said they should be allowed to serve their community. "When President Uhuru Kenyatta visited this area a week ago, he urged locals, especially the youth, to turn up and demand to serve their country.

But that has not happened because no youths from this area have been employed,'' said Mr Cheruiyot. Another resident, Robert Kipkoech, said the youth were demanding both skilled and unskilled employment opportunities.