Last week, Kiambu county assembly passed a provision that 70% of the employees in the organizations in the County MUST be locals- Kiambu people. In this time and age, this is one of the wrong move or legislation any progressive society can make.
Below are five reasons why it's misguided to make such a backward law.
Ethnicity hinders integration
Kenya for the longest time has been struggling to achieve unity amongst its citizens from all the communities. This has been elusive owing to political interest.
By passing such a legislation, Kiambu (Kikuyu nation) is viewed by other communities as selfish and inconsiderate. Something that would hinder any free cooperation between Kiambu and other counties.
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Free movement of Kenyans
Chapter four of our constitution expressly outlines the bill of rights. Any Kenyan has a right of movement; whether it's in search of love, food, accommodation, work etc.
When Kiambu county passes such a law, it restricts nonlocals from moving into Kiambu county to seek work among other desires. In reciprocation, other communities will shut doors for nonlocals and make them persona non grata. This curtains the freedom of movement.
Private Organizations
In their recruitment and selection process, every organization aims to any post the most suitable person. To compel organizations in the county to have 70% of the workforce to be comprised of locals is unrealistic given that some talents that the companies seek to employ may not be found within Kiambu county.
This in return would affect the companies productivity and profitability. The organizations should be allowed to make recruitment decisions independently albeit fairly- in a balanced pattern.
Devolution is not secession
A senior leader from Kiambu county was in one of the bulletins trying to explain devolution, and why it was conceived. Listening to him, one can tell he confuses devolution with secession.
Devolution is a structure whereby regions of a nation operate autonomously with their own governments- not absolutely but I'm coordination with the national government. Secession on the other side is a situation where a region of a nation "pulls" from the nation to govern itself absolutely and in "competition" with the national government. Mostly secession occurs due to unmet political, economic and social demands as expressed by the dissatisfied (seceding) region.
Keeping away investors
No investor would want to set up shop in a region where the region's government dictates who they should employ and who they shouldn't. It's scaring.
This move could scare away potential investors from doing business and in return contributing to the growth of Kiambu county.
Conclusion
It's fine for the local leaders from Kiambu county to try and demonstrate to Kiambu residents that they care about them but it's not reasonable, fine or fair when the leaders do so via retrogressive legislation.
