NAIROBI, Kenya – Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities continue to dominate new government employment, accounting for more than a third of all public service appointments made in the year ending June 30, 2025, according to a new report by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The findings, contained in the PSC’s latest workforce diversity audit, are likely to reignite debate over ethnic balance in state hiring, despite long-standing directives aimed at correcting historical inequalities.
Out of 7,224 new hires across ministries, state departments and agencies, Kalenjins secured 1,250 positions, representing 17.3 per cent of all appointments. Kikuyus followed closely with 1,208 hires, or 16.7 per cent.
Combined, the two communities took 2,458 jobs — roughly 34 per cent of all new public service appointments during the period.
Other large communities lagged significantly behind. Luhyas received 924 appointments, Luos 839, Kambas 551, and Kisii 517.
Smaller numbers were recorded among Merus (371), Mijikendas (232), Maasais (224), Somalis (208) and Embus (100).
The report paints a starker picture for minority groups, some of which were almost entirely excluded from public service recruitment.
The Ogiek and Waat communities recorded just one appointment each, while Wardei and Taveta had two each, and Elmolos three. Tharakas received 66 posts, Pokots 67, Teso 64 and Boranas 54.
According to the PSC, the overrepresentation of Kalenjins and Kikuyus in government employment is not new and reflects decades-long trends tied to political dominance and population size.
A similar pattern was recorded under the Kenya Kwanza administration, which made 8,447 appointments up to December 2024, the majority of them drawn from the same two communities.
By December 2024, PSC records showed that Kikuyus and Kalenjins alone accounted for more than a third of the entire public service workforce, with 47,543 Kikuyus (20 per cent) and 40,820 Kalenjins (17.6 per cent) employed across state institutions.
In an attempt to address persistent disparities, the PSC had directed all public institutions to implement affirmative action measures and apply a formula intended to achieve near-equal ethnic representation by June 30, 2025. However, the latest data shows the imbalance remains entrenched.
Ten ethnic communities currently occupy close to 90 per cent of public service jobs, while just five control about 70 per cent of positions in state corporations.
The report also found that 29 state institutions have a single ethnic group making up more than half of their workforce.
Non-competitive recruitment practices in ministries, state corporations and public universities were identified as a major driver of skewed representation.
While public institutions are required to adhere to merit-based hiring and promotion, exemptions are allowed only to correct underrepresentation based on gender, ethnicity or disability.
The PSC noted that regulations meant to enforce ethnic balance are yet to be fully approved and operationalised, weakening enforcement efforts.
Defending its role, the commission said appointments are guided by “meritocracy, fairness, transparency and inclusivity,” but acknowledged structural challenges that limit its effectiveness.
The report revealed that the PSC is operating under severe constraints, including a 41 per cent budget shortfall and a 44 per cent vacancy rate among its staff.
“The commission’s wide mandate covering 585 public organisations, coupled with disproportionately low budget allocation, contributes to significant delivery frictions and missed targets,” the report states.
