A section of Garbatula area residents in Isiolo County have expressed dissatisfaction over the implementation of the Sh83.7 billion Horn of Africa Gateway development project, citing unfair recruitment and compensation plans.
The residents who marched to the Deputy County Commissioner’s offices in Garbatula town, expressed fears that the 740-kilometre Isiolo-Modogashe-Mandera road might not achieve its intended gains due to political interference and alleged alienation of the local community by some selfish government officials.
They demanded an audit of the employees working along the road to establish whether the 70:30 constitutional threshold, that requires majority of the workforce to be sourced locally, had been met, saying local skilled laborers were languishing in poverty.
Led by Sheikh Ali Harun and human rights activist Ibrahim Ali Jarso, the residents said their voices were not being adequately considered especially during acquisition of their land, resulting in mistrust.
They accused a senior national government administrator of micromanaging the recruitment process and making express decisions without involving them, further marginalizing them.
The administrator is on the spot for allegedly leasing out community land at Sh3 million for crusher purposes without involving members of the public.
Ibrahim said the local community was yet to benefit under the project’s corporate social responsibility activities and called for equitable distribution of economic opportunities.
Communities along the corridor are expected to benefit from roadside livestock markets, clean water, milk coolers, internet, veterinary services and livestock holding areas as well as electrification in some areas according to the project design.
A total of 468 complaints were made to the National Land Commission between July and August this year by residents living along the road corridor, mainly seeking appeal of awards and insisting that their land acquired had not been paid for.
The World-Bank funded Project that is being supervised by the Ministry of Transport and Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), snakes through Isiolo, Meru, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera counties and is expected to open up the Northern region and enhance domestic and regional trade.
Awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation, the road will also reduce traveling time from Nairobi to Mandera, a distance of 983 kilometres, by a half from the usual three days.
