TASK FORCE TO INVESTIGING COMPANIES FLOATING LAWS

Kilifi residents might have to shoulder the problems they face in their working place as the county government expect to come up with a task force to investigate companies in the county that float labor and environment laws.

The county governor, Amason Kingi, revealed that many despite the need to have investors to deal with the number of unemployed people in the county there was need to them to ensure good working environment to workers.

Speaking at M’bungoni at Kambe in Rabai, Kingi, noted there has been claims from the locals living next to mining company at Bondora and stressed on the need to have investigation done to get to the real bottom of the matter.

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the Kilifi county government will constitute a task force to investigate the claims by Athi river mining, Mombasa cement, all the salt firms in Magarini, the Epz and all investors in the area. It’s a must they all need to comply with the law and in a span of two month a report will be produced for further action.” Revealed the governor

Kambe Ribe County Rep, Valentine  Matsaki during the signing ceremony

According to Kingi, locals should raise the alarm in case they are oppressed in their working environment at all the time and warned investors that they might be forced to close if they will not comply with the recommendation to be made by the task force

Joseph Masudi, a resident at Kwa Randu village claimed those who are working in the company are struggling to survive with poor pay and efforts to fight for better pay made him and four other people lose their employment in the year 2000 having worked for five years without a union.

 “We were in talks to have the employees join a union, but when the management realized, they chased us and to date we are yet to get our dues,” he revealed, adding, “we almost got a reprieve when we went to court and got a ruling to allow us join a union, but again the management came in with another order to reverse what we had.”

Masudi said that their dismissal made other employees to shy away from raising their voice over poor working conditions, including good pay before the management forced its employees to join the Kenya Quarry Workers’ Union, which agreed with the company’s terms.

Sources in the mining factory who sought anonymity noted that the management has been against the wish by employee to join Kenya chemicals and workers union.

Similar sentiment were echoed by Kilifi county senator, Stewart Madzayo, who stressed that all workers have their right to join the union of their choice

Kilifi county governor Kingi (centre) shares a point senator Madzayo and ARM director Pradeep

During the function Athi river mining company entered into agreement with M’bungoni Primary to spend over 2M annually in improving school infrastructure.

According to the memorandum sighed between Athi River mining cement company and parents, PTA and the M’bungoni management committee, the partnership will last from August 2013 to December 2020.

Addressing the gathering the company’s managing director, Pradeep Paunrana, insisted that the company through its Rhino foundation wing was dedicated towards improving education in the area

However Mbungoni resident and other living around the factory took issues with the amount of dust that is emanating from the factory affecting them in all aspects of live both in health and economically.

Madzayo added calling on the need to address the dust issue as has direct negative impact to the communities.

“As we you fight to improve the education sector, there is need to settle the dust problem as affects our people. Despite the good thing you might be doing there need to ensure you have good relationship with the locals as we all need each other.” Said the senator.

Rabai Member of Parliament, William Kamoti, assured the locals that gone are the days when few individuals benefited from investors through illegal manner at the expenses of the locals.

He urged all investors to comply with the available laws to avoid conflict in their operation as the problems are emerging as locals feel sidelined in the benefits from them.

“You should now be aware that we are in a new era where local problems are set to be solved at local level where we have our county government. If you thought you had god fathers who used to protect you to abuse our people’s rights, this time round it will not happen but only comply and enjoy an ample working environment.” Warned Kamoti

However the legislature was quick to point on the need for locals to weigh between the negative and positive contribution by investors before thinking of closure of the factories.

According to Kamoti, there is more danger in forcing an investor to pull away as the local will risk losing economically.

He gave the example of Kwale County still feeling the impact of the closure of Ramisi sugar factory the same as Kilifi struggling to the closure of Cashunut factory and Mariakani milk scheme.

Kamoti retaliated that leader in the county level were united to push for improvement of good pay for workers and good environment to all workers around Athi River and all companies floating the labor and environment laws.

However local leaders at M’bungoni criticized move by the cement factory management to fail recognize them in their locality.

Kambe/Ribe county representative, Valentine Matsaki, took issues with the manner in which the management fail to involve him in the process of engaging in partnership for fear of critics accusing the factory of running away from allegation raised by the locals.

According to him, he was forced to attend the function due to the respect to Kilifi county governor who grassed the occasion as chief guest and warned ARM management to involve all stakeholders and follow the protocol in implementing programme.

“ i know there are people who are not from this area who are visiting this factory with their mission best known to them, we will not accept to have our people get affected by dust from the company and other evils while few are riding on our back this should stop.” Said Matsaki

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