Ethnic Disparities in Public Service as Kikuyu, Kalenjin Dominates PSC Jobs
Article 232 of the 2010 constitution emphasizes the imperative for the public service to mirror the diversity of Kenyan communities, ensuring equal opportunities in appointments, training, and advancement.
Despite this constitutional mandate, the latest report from the Public Service Commission (PSC) for the 2022/2023 financial year underscores persistent issues of ethnic politics and exclusion.
Out of the 46 ethnic communities in Kenya, the PSC report highlights that 35 out of 44 had what could be considered normal representation in the public service. However, disparities become evident, with certain communities dominating the landscape.
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The Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities top the charts as grossly overrepresented, exceeding their national size, followed closely by the Kisii and Luo communities, categorized as overrepresented.
Conversely, the Maasai, Turkana, Luhya, and Mijikenda are flagged for underrepresentation. Despite the influence of the Kenyan Somali community in various parts of the country, the PSC report categorizes them as grossly underrepresented.
Notably, the Kenyan American and Dahalo communities find themselves at the bottom of the representation spectrum, with no presence in the public service.
The report also raises concerns about the inadequate representation of persons with disabilities, as the 5% threshold remains unmet in various government entities. To address this, the report proposes the establishment of a time-bound affirmative action program, aiming to achieve the goal by June 30 of this year.
Examining non-competitive appointments in the 2022/2023 financial year, the PSC report reveals that just over 1000 officers were recruited, with a meager 0.8% representing persons with disabilities.
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The top communities in these appointments range from 21.8% to 2.1%, including the Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kamba, Meru, Kisii, Maasai, Taita, and Mijikenda.
Further insights from the report disclose that 250 officers were appointed as personal staff in the office of the deputy president and advisers to cabinet secretaries. However, the breakdown of the communities of origin for these appointments is not provided.
The report emphasizes that state corporations and SAGAs accounted for the highest number of officers recruited non-competitively, with 466, followed by ministries and state departments with 290 officers.
Recognizing the potential for abuse, the PSC recommends that all public organizations adhere to the principles of fair competition and merit in their recruitment processes.
Despite President William Ruto’s assurances of nondiscrimination based on political choices, the conversation around inclusion continues, fueled by remarks from his deputy hinting at prioritizing government-friendly communities.
Ethnic Disparities in Public Service as Kikuyu, Kalenjin Dominates PSC Jobs