Government Goes for Foreigners Undertaking Menial Hotel Jobs in Kilifi
By Raphael Mboja
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro has announced a crackdown and repatriation of foreigners competing with locals on unskilled hotel jobs in the county.
He said his administration in conjunction with the national government would this week gazette a team that would spearhead the crackdown with a view to rooting out foreigners doing menial jobs in local tourist hotels.
Speaking after launching two key tourist roads in Watamu and Dabaso wards, the governor said he did not see any sense in employing foreigners to be animators or waiters yet local youths who could handle such jobs.
“We agreed with the president when he came to Watamu to form a team and now we have formed a joint committee between the county government and the national government which we shall gazette this week,” he said at the Dabaso PEFA Church.
According to him foreigners doing hotel jobs that can be done by Kenyans will be ejected and repatriated to their countries of origin noting that that some of the foreigners had been hired to play pool volleyball something that work can be done by locals.
“God willing by 11th December 2024, we shall conduct a county-wide crackdown. We have put a committee in place, which will be led by myself and I will personally spearhead the crackdown in conjunction with the Principal Secretary, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services.”
The governor urged local leaders and even the youth to provide information regarding any foreigners working as animators, waiters, bartenders or any jobs that could be handled locally.
“Bring their names and I will personally take them to the airport so that they return to their countries.”
He launched the construction of the three-kilometer Kizingo-Mbaraka Chembe Road that is set to cost Sh59 million and the 2.5-kilometer Timboni-Dabaso-Crab Shark Road whose construction cost was not disclosed. The two roads lead to various tourist establishments.
The governor directed the contractor, M/S AA Bayusuf and Sons, to prioritize local youths in employment and only hire outsiders if the expertise could not be found locally.
He said all new roads being constructed would henceforth be installed with street lights and flood lights to ensure the safety of travellers as well as enable locals to engage in a 24-hour economy.
The County chief officer for roads, Philip Charo warned against the destruction of infrastructure during protests.
Locals who spoke to journalists lauded the county government for the roads projects saying the projects would spur economic development in the areas.
