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By Mzalendo Contributor Moreen Majiwa (@mmajiwa)
The statistics in the latest report by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission on ethnicity in the civil services are alarming. According to the newspaper reports on the survey:
‘The Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luhya, Kamba and Luo account for 70% of all service jobs. Of all government workers 22.3% are Kikuyu, 16.7% are Kalenjin, 11.3% are Luyha, 9.7% are Kamba, 9.0% are Luo and 5.8% are Kisii, 20 tribes have less than 1% representation in the civil service." The report further breaks down the ethnic composition across government ministries and departments.
I wonder what a survey of the private sector would like? Tribalism is so pervasive that it may warrant specific legislation and statutes dedicated to it. The National Cohesion and Integration Act is one such legislation but to be quite honest despite reports from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, there has been little implementation or enforcement of its provisions.
Though the Commission's report on ethnicity in the civil service is already drawing criticism, the report is useful as it findings raise questions about, equal opportunities, openness and transparency in recruitment practices, competency, affirmative action policies for marginalised communities, the need for merit based appointments and recruitments. After all the constitution does require fair competition and merit as the basis of appointments and promotions in the civil service (Article 232 (1) (g). It also requires representation of Kenya’s diverse communities (Article 232 (1) (h), and provision of equal opportunities for appointment, training and advancement, at all levels of the public service, of men and women, members of all ethnic groups and persons with disabilities.
Now that the issue has been flagged and made public it is crucial that the information be used in a constructive and not divisive manner.
And in other news…
Director of Public Prosecutions update: The government has received now 30 applications, for the previously unapplied for, position of Director of Public Prosecutions, 5 of the applicants are women it will interesting to watch and see if a woman get picked for any of the three judicial positions, Chief Justice, DPP, or AG. Surprisingly or not, presidential nominee for the position of DDP Kioko Kilokumi is not among the 30 applicants.
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