Senators reviewing county staff composition for ethnic balance
By Rawlings Otieno, August 5, 2024
Senators have started reviewing the ethnic diversity in the composition of county governments and whether regional administrations are complying with the law on recruiting people with disabilities
Successive auditor general reports have revealed that the majority of employees in devolved units come from dominant ethnic communities, contrary to the law.
The Senate’s National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration Committee, chaired by Mohammed Chute (Marsabit), has begun a review that targets county executives and their legislative assemblies.
“We have written to all the governors, County Public Service Boards and County Assembly Public Service Boards to come and explain to us if they are complying with the law about the composition of their staff,” said Chute.
The committee’s moves come as governors have been accused of skewed hiring that favours their kinsmen and people from their tribes.
Already, the committee has completed reviewing staff composition in national government entities, with large ethnic communities found to dominate the bodies.
Section 66 of the County Governments Act, 2012 states that county governments should ensure that not more than 70 percent of county public service positions at any level are occupied by persons from the dominant ethnic community.
Ethnic discrimination
In addition, Section 65 of the Act stipulates that the composition should reflect the diversity of the county’s population by ensuring appointments reflect ethnic, gender and regional balance.
Further, Section 7 of the NCIC Act, 2015, prohibits ethnic discrimination and requires public establishments to promote ethnic diversity and fair employment practices.
The committee has already cited officials in Siaya, Tana River, Lamu and Garissa counties for failing to comply with the law in recruiting employees.
The committee has also reviewed staff composition in the Samburu County Assembly.
For instance, the committee established that in the Samburu assembly, more than 84 per cent of their staff come from the dominant Samburu community.