Motorists Association Urges Govt to Hire Kenyan Engineers for Highway Projects
The Motorists Association of Kenya has launched a fresh appeal to the government. They want Kenyan engineers and skilled workers given first priority in the construction of highways.
According to the group, relying on foreign firms is locking out local graduates from jobs and stifling economic growth.
Foreign Firms Under Fire
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the association accused the government of surrendering critical infrastructure to outsiders. They argued that such moves drain resources that should empower Kenyans.
“Kenya is not poor in capacity. We have skilled graduates in engineering, surveying, architecture, and technical trades who remain jobless, even as our leaders sign away projects to foreign firms. We have the machinery and equipment—bulldozers, graders, rollers, tippers, shovels, and locally available technical expertise. What we lack is the political will to prioritise our own,” the statement read.
The association urged the state to turn the proposed expansion of the Mombasa–Nairobi Highway into a Kenyan-led project.
Jobs and Local Growth
They explained that a public-led initiative would create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Engineers, surveyors, welders, mechanics, and casual labourers would all find opportunities.
Moreover, roadside businesses would thrive.
“Local enterprises such as canteens, butcheries, workshops, groceries, and hotels can benefit directly from construction activities,” the statement continued.
A Question of Pride
They went further, questioning Kenya’s inability to build its own roads.
“This is what national budgets are for: to create jobs, stimulate enterprise, and build national pride. Instead, we are bleeding away resources.”
“The question we must ask ourselves is simple: How poor are we really, if with all our resources, our youth, and our machinery, we cannot even build our own roads?”
The group insisted that allowing outsiders to dominate road projects undermines Kenya’s independence and its long-term growth.
Petition Against Rironi-Mau Summit Highway
Last Thursday, the Motorists Association launched a petition against the planned expansion of the Rironi–Mau Summit highway. This key road connects Nairobi and Nakuru.
The petition, hosted on a new online platform, allows Kenyans to register objections to the government’s plan to toll the highway.
The Bigger Picture
As the debate continues, the association challenged leaders to rethink road policies. They warned that a country unable to provide jobs and dignity to its own citizens risks surrendering not only its highways, but also its future.
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Motorists Association Urges Govt to Hire Kenyan Engineers for Highway Projects
