Employees working in the construction industry continue to suffer especially those working for foreigners owned companies. Well-placed sources from employees working for a Chinese construction company, Canaan Developers at various construction sites told us on strict condition of anonymity that they are poorly paid, work for longer hours, work without protective gear and are abandoned when they get involved in an accident while on duty.
According to our sources, there is racial segregation as Chinese staff are well paid and well catered for as compared to their Kenyan colleagues. Some Chinese are also known to molest Kenyan workers at various construction sites.
A perfect example is when the management instructed workers at a multi-storey building on Matundu Lane in Westlands, Nairobi, to continue with the work without requisite approval from the NCA
It is also alleged that the company in many cases have been undertaking construction work without express approval from National Construction Authority thereby putting the lives of Kenyans at risk while at the same time putting the lives of the construction workers at risk.
There have been occasions when casual labourers have been arrested by National Construction Authority officers and locked up in cells and even arraigned in court and the management does not pay for their bail or fines yet the mistake is made by the management. A perfect example is when the management instructed workers at a multi-storey building on Matundu Lane in Westlands, Nairobi, to continue with the work without requisite approval from the NCA.
According to the charge sheet, they failed to obey an order by the National Construction Authority (NCA) to discontinue construction of the building owned by Canaan Developers Ltd. Arrests were made but those arrested had to bail themselves out.
It is also alleged that casuals are not allowed to take off duties to attend to pressing family matters and if one fails to show up at work, they are sacked through word of mouth without warning and any pay for the days already worked. Our attempts to reach Mr Yohannes Kuflu who is the Chief Operating Officer did not materialize as he ignored our WhatsApp communication to verify the allegations.
