The government has appeared to shift the blame on Kenyan Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) workers over racism and mistreatment claims by Chinese bosses.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday, government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said Kenyans must gather the courage to tackle issues to do with work ethic.
Kiraithe, who was responding to the claims of harassment of Kenyan staffs at SGR, said the field requires high discipline, stating that “haki yetu” centred personalities have no place in the running of the Madaraka Express.
“I am not saying any worker should be discriminated and humiliated in the work place but we must all appreciate that the operations of a modern train is a profession that calls for military standard discipline.”
“Inward looking, haki yetu (our right) centered personalities have no place in this kind of profession, [not now or in the future]. They are the first crop of Kenyans employed on this project and the culture they entrench will determine whether in less that 10 years we shall depend on them,” he said.
“It would be very unfortunate if after the agreed period, we continue relying on expatriates. it is important that they shift their focus from short term diversions to the challenge at hand.”
The spokesperson also noted that many organizations prefer hiring foreign workers due to bad work ethics by Kenyans.
“We don’t need to do a lot of research to realise we are losing jobs to foreigners especially in civil engineering,” he said. “I am not saying this to be an apologist. There is something we can learn from other cultures on project management.”
He said the government will however investigate the claims and take action where necessary.
“We have put all measures to deal with these issues, but if you are a Kenyan who claim to have mistreated and you have not reported to police and have not reported to Fida, then you have to,” Kiraithe said.
So what’s the solution., ?…
So what’s the solution., ? Let foreigners take jobs while theft, killings, loitering, prostitution, stealing government procurement money, the list is endless., this government has failed its own citizens. Kibaki addressed issues in loans and in return majority of mungiki folks bought Nduthi and tuk Tuks., his policy actions like Mutotho law averted accidents but you administration mr Kiraithe continue to vomiting rubbish and making a fool of yourselves., people will soon unite and revolution is soon coming., enough is enough., Mandela hoiyeeee ., freedom is coming tomorrow…
Hii nayo mapema sana ni…
Hii nayo mapema sana ni Etnicity within Kenyan ama wameanza kuleta watu wao. all workers to be trained in PR not all might qualify to work in a high discipline area like public transport be it air,, rail ,,road..hapo ndio ZERO torerance to corruption inatakikana ku iplementiwa..mzigo..mercury sugar isiingie etc jakuna ya kujuana hapo.
It is no secret our work…
It is no secret our work ethic sometimes is wanting but with training and clear expectations we all rise up. How do you explain the salary difference for same work done, coporal punishments and the segragation going on? Does it have to do with poor work ethic too? How about Chinese language being used on instruction manuals. Has Chinese become our national language.
Working with some Kenyans I…
Working with some Kenyans I know first hard is a challenge, the hakuna matata and taking everything with semi- professionalism and kucheka , cheka etc. Thank you Kiraithe for saying it as it is …hiyo ni ukweli kabisaaa
HaukuMention Chuki, Wivu,…
HaukuMention Chuki, Wivu, Uchoyo,Maseng’enyo yao; na hata Kuvunja NDOA za Wakenya au Marafiki zao.
HaukuMention Chuki, Wivu,…
HaukuMention Chuki, Wivu, Uchoyo,Maseng’enyo yao; na hata Kuvunja NDOA za Wakenya au Marafiki zao.
Mheshimiwa Dada …
Mheshimiwa Dada @formelyguest2, umetoboa kwa kusema ukweli. Kwa mfano, ukiwa na miadi (appointment) ya kukutana na mtu saa tatu kamili, ni lazima iwe saa tatu kamili, siyo saa tatu na nusu!
Lakini ningependa kutilia mkazo umuhimu wa Ndugu na Dada zetu Wachina kujifunza lugha yetu ya taifa (Kiswahili) na pia kuitumia kazini.
“Heshima si utumwa.”
Eric Kiraithe you need to…
Eric Kiraithe you need to train Kenyans work ethics. Some Kenyans do not know what work ethics is starting from the top. How can you do something you do not know?
What an idiot. Deep down he…
What an idiot. Deep down he is suffering from inferiority complex. He must believe somehow that the Chinese are superior to Kenyans.
I wonder if this fellow ever visited China and see how backward and ignorant the majority of them are.
Kenyans are quite simply BAD…
Kenyans are quite simply BAD workers,lazy, slow, pilfering,inefficient and can’t be relied on without close supervision. This from painful personal experience. I have nothing but admiration for anyone who invests hard earned money in this situation. Those crying foul need to take a look at the work ethic and culture prevailing in other countries notably Asia and the West.