By Staff Writer |Wajir Today | Tuesday, 21 October 2025

The Wajir County Security Committee has advised the dismissal of striking employees working on the Horn of Africa Gateway Road Project between Wajir and Tarbaj, accusing them of sabotaging the multibillion-shilling national infrastructure development.

County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo addressed the standoff between the contractor and employees during Mashujaa Day celebrations on Monday, saying repeated attempts to resolve the standoff between the contractor and workers had failed.

“We have gone there with labour officers, and they have explained the law to the workers. Some of their demands, like salary increases and allowances, are not practical,” said Ngumo. “We have advised the contractor to dismiss them and hire new workers. We cannot allow this project to be sabotaged.”

The standoff has paralysed a key section of the project, the stretch between Wajir and Tarbaj which has been hit by recurrent strikes and work stoppages.

However, the directive comes amid mounting tension and anger among some local site workers, who accuse the contractor of poor working conditions, mistreatment, and low pay.

A resident, Adow Olow, accused the Wajir-Tarbaj contractor of exploitation and negligence. “We work over 12 hours, and some go home past 10pm,” he lamented.

The Horn of Africa Gateway Project, a flagship government initiative meant to boost connectivity and trade in northern Kenya, has been plagued by labour unrest and delays in recent months.