Residents of Malava, Kakamega County, have called on West Kenya Sugar Company to reserve at least 70 per cent of jobs at its newly constructed ethanol plant for members of the local community.
The residents said they expected the company to prioritise locals when recruiting workers, arguing that the community had made significant sacrifices to facilitate the establishment of the plant.
Speaking at Shiruma village, residents led by Enos Arunga and Janet Murambi said the project had raised hopes of employment and improved livelihoods, particularly among unemployed young people.
Arunga said the company had promised during public participation meetings that a significant proportion of jobs would be reserved for residents.
“The company must honour its pledge during public participation fora to reserve 70 per cent of jobs for the local community,” Arunga said.
He said residents agreed to sell their land to the investor with the expectation that the community would benefit through employment opportunities.
“The community agreed to sell their land to the investor on agreement the community would benefit from the plant in terms of employment, and that’s what we’re asking,” he added.
Arunga said residents were willing to engage the company in dialogue over concerns that people from outside the area could be employed at the expense of locals.
Residents seek priority in recruitment
Murambi urged the company to involve community leaders and local representatives before recruiting workers for different positions at the plant.
“The company is on our land; we are supposed to get first priority. The company is operational and no one has reached us,” she said.
Another resident argued that not every position at the plant would require formal academic qualifications, and therefore locals should be considered for available opportunities.
The residents said their demand should not be interpreted as an attempt to interfere with the plant’s operations, but rather as a call for fairness and fulfilment of commitments made during the project’s establishment.
The concerns come as the ethanol plant prepares to commence operations, with residents expecting it to create employment and stimulate business activities in the area.
Company asks residents to be patient
West Kenya Industries Public Relations Officer George Muruli called for patience, saying the company had already engaged local leaders, including politicians, on the recruitment process.
Muruli said the company had put measures in place to ensure that residents benefit from employment opportunities, adding that recruitment was still ongoing.
He said locals would be considered for available positions, particularly those that do not require specialised skills.
“When it comes to employment, some immediate jobs like manual jobs are going direct to the community,” Muruli said.
He explained that unskilled positions were particularly suitable for local residents because they could work at the plant without incurring additional costs associated with relocating to the area.
Muruli assured residents that the company was aware of their concerns and would continue considering them as recruitment progresses.
Company warns against politicising project
Muruli also urged politicians to avoid politicising the project, saying they should instead help residents understand that major developments take time to generate widespread benefits.
“Instead of politicising constructive and productive projects like the one we are constructing here, let them support and help us in the community to make them understand that change is not instantaneous, that change is gradual,” he said.
He said the company hoped to create more employment opportunities as additional projects are developed.
“Let’s work together so that we can fetch more jobs the way they are demanding so that we can also do more projects for the community,” Muruli added.
The ethanol plant is expected to become an important economic project in Malava, with residents hoping it will create jobs while opening up opportunities for local businesses and suppliers.
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