County jobs are marred by tribalism, NCIC

At least 34 counties are on the spot for failing to comply with provisions of the law on employment diversity in the County Public Service. 

The Senate National Cohesion and Integration Committee wants action taken against the administrations of the devolved units for contravening section 65 (1) (e) of the  County Governments Act in employing most of their employees from one community. 

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) told the committee chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute that the Bomet County government has employed the dominant Kalenjin community at 97.3 per cent, Elgeyo Marakwet at 96.4 per cent and Vihiga has 95.8 per cent Luhya. 

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“The issue of tribalism in employment in this country is very serious, NCIC needs to engage with the national government and the counties to have it addressed since we need to have the face of Kenya reflected in matters of employment in every public sector entity,” said Chute. 

NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia told the committee in Nairobi that they had established 34 counties that have employed more than 70 per cent of their workforce from one dominant ethnic community, which contravenes the law.  The constitution states that in selecting candidates for appointment, the County Public Service Board shall ensure that at least 30 per cent of vacant positions at entry level are filled by candidates who are not from the dominant ethnic community in the county. 

The NCIC audit report on Ethnic and Diversity of the County Public Service 2023, shows that Nyandarua has employed more Kikuyus at 95.6 per cent, Nyamira (Gusii) at 94.7 per cent, Kisii (Gusii) at 94.3 per cent and Mandera (Somali) at 93.4 per cent. 

Kericho has employed the dominant Kalenjin community at 93.3 per cent, Wajir (Somali community) at 93.1 per cent, Makueni (Kamba) at 92.5 per cent, Nyeri (Kikuyu) at 92.8 per cent and Muranga (Kikuyu) community at 92.2 per cent respectively. 

He said 18 Counties have significantly dropped in compliance with provisions of the County Government Act with over 90 per cent ethnic composition of the dominant community including Bomet, Elgeyo Marakwet, Vihiga, Nandi, Nyandarua, Nyamira, Kisii, Kericho and Wajir. 

Out of 45 ethnic communities in Kenya, 10 dominate the Public Service of their relevant counties with Kalenjin dominating all counties in that region taking 15.45 per cent of the Country’s Public Service jobs. The Kikuyu community comes in second at 15.40,

“The Luhya are third at (13), Luo (9.15), Kamba (8.7), Kisii (7.5), Mijikenda (5.0), Meru (4.7), Somali (4.3) and Maasai at 4 per cent respectively,” said Kobia. 

Kobia told the committee that since 2016, the 47 County governments have employed at least 98,299 public servants with the highest number of new County Public Service staff from Kenya’s dominant ethnic groups. 

The Kikuyus have 15,646 employees representing 15.9 per cent, Kalenjin 13,877 representing 14.12 per cent, Luhya 13,526 (13.7 per cent), Kamba 8,300 (8.4 per cent) and Luo 8,204 (8.35 per cent) respectively.