Summary
- The Public Service Commission (PSC) says in a new report to Parliament that Kikuyus and Kalenjins account for 29 percent and 11 percent of the 417 top jobs in government, including directors and principal secretaries respectively.
- Kikuyus accounted for 27 percent of Kenya’s 66 ambassadors with Kalenjins taking 14 percent amid the push to ensure that offices funded by taxpayers have a face of Kenya with all communities given an opportunity to serve.
- On CEOs of parastatals, Kikuyus took 20 per cent of the positions followed by Kalenjins at 19.4 per cent, Luo (14.4 per cent) and Luhya (10 per cent).
Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities dominate top jobs in government,
embassies and chief executive positions in parastatals, a new report on
the ethnic composition in State shows.
The Public
Service Commission (PSC) says in a new report to Parliament that Kikuyus
and Kalenjins account for 29 percent and 11 percent of the 417 top jobs
in government, including directors and principal secretaries
respectively.
Kikuyus accounted for 27 percent of
Kenya’s 66 ambassadors with Kalenjins taking 14 percent amid the push to
ensure that offices funded by taxpayers have a face of Kenya with all
communities given an opportunity to serve.
On CEOs of
parastatals, Kikuyus took 20 per cent of the positions followed by
Kalenjins at 19.4 per cent, Luo (14.4 per cent) and Luhya (10 per cent).
of Kenya with all communities given an opportunity to serve.
On CEOs of parastatals, Kikuyus took 20 per cent of the
positions followed by Kalenjins at 19.4 per cent, Luo (14.4 per cent)
and Luhya (10 per cent).
The Constitution introduced
the ethnic representation requirements to check a historical trend where
the tribesmen of those in power were favoured during recruitment.
“Ethnic
representation in the service is examined against the corresponding
national population proportion,” Margaret Kobia, the Cabinet Secretary
said in a report on ethnic composition on top level management in
Ministries, State Corporations and Embassies.
According
to PSC diversity policy, all public service institutions will now be
required to prepare measures to correct the ethnic imbalance.
Prof
Kobia said 210 public institutions have developed a three-year plan to
address the imbalances in terms of ethnic, gender and persons with
disabilities. “All public agencies have developed the above mentioned
plans to address the gaps by progressively working towards achieving
near-parity,” she said.
Under the diversity policy for
State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) released in December
2015 by PSC, ethnic groups whose job representation surpasses their
corresponding national population proportion are considered to be
over-represented.
The diversity policy was expected to
tackle the problem of over-representation by setting hiring quotas for
ethnic groups and disadvantaged classes such as the disabled.
The
PSC data indicate central Kikuyu are over-presented among the top
officers in government with 120 positions that accounted for 29 per cent
of the senior jobs against their 17 per cent share of population based
on 2019 Census. They accounted 20 per cent of parastatal CEO jobs and 27
per cent of top positions in foreign missions.
The
Kalenjins share of the population stood at 13 per cent, but controlled
19.4 per cent of CEOs in State-owned firms and 14 per cent of top
Embassy jobs. They have 11 per cent of senior jobs in the civil service.
Luos
account for 11 per cent of Kenya’s population but control 14.4 per cent
CEOs positions in parastatals and 10 per cent of top government jobs.
Merus
account for four per cent of Kenya’s population, but are
overrepresented among the top jobs in government and chief executive
positions in parastatals.
The Luhyas, which form 14 per
cent of the Kenyan population accounted for eight per cent of senior
positions in the civil service and 10 per cent of top jobs in the
foreign missions.
Other underrepresented communities include the Mijikenda, Kisii, Njemps, Kenyan Arabs, Kenyan Asians and Ogiek.
The Kikuyu and Kalenjin dominance mirrors the two tribes’ presence at the highest office in Kenya since Independence.
President
Uhuru Kenyatta succeeded Mwai Kibaki, both Kikuyus. President Daniel
arap Moi who ruled for 24 years before Mr Kibaki was a Kalenjin. Deputy
President William Ruto is also a Kalenjin.
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