NAIROBI, Kenya — A recent audit has brought to light widespread ethnic-based recruitment practices within Kenya’s public universities, placing 21 institutions under scrutiny for violating equal employment opportunity laws.
The report, authored by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, highlights a pattern of favoritism toward the dominant local ethnic communities in university staffing, particularly in the hiring of top managers.
The audit reveals that these universities have consistently breached Section 7(2) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008, which mandates that no public institution should have more than one-third of its staff from a single ethnic community. This law aims to ensure diversity and equal representation in public employment.
Kenyatta University is one of the most prominent institutions cited in the report. The audit found that 42 percent of its workforce comprises Kikuyus, far exceeding the legal limit.
Out of 1,185 employees, only 1,661 positions are left for other communities. Despite previous warnings, the university’s administration has made no significant efforts to address this imbalance.
Other universities mentioned include Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kibabii, Rongo, Kirinyaga, and Kisii, among others.
At Kibabii University, for instance, 75 percent of the staff are Luhyas. Similarly, at Maseno University, Luos make up 63 percent of the workforce.
These figures starkly contrast with the legal requirements and reflect a deep-rooted issue in public university hiring practices.
Auditor General Gathungu’s report details numerous instances of ethnic dominance with Kibabii University having 75 percent Luhya staff, Maseno University 63 percent Luo staff, Kirinyaga University 71 percent Kikuyu staff, Moi University 62 percent Kalenjin staff, and Garissa University 60 percent Somali staff.
These statistics are symptomatic of a broader trend where universities prefer hiring from the local dominant community, leading to a lack of diversity and potential discrimination against other ethnic groups.
The violations have serious legal implications, with the Auditor General calling for immediate corrective measures.
“Management of the 21 universities was in breach of the law,” Gathungu stated in her review of the universities’ accounts as of June 30, 2022.
The persistent disregard for the law not only undermines the principles of equal opportunity but also perpetuates ethnic divisions within the country’s educational institutions.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is now seeking to enforce stricter compliance with ethnic balance in public service employment.
New regulations proposed by the PSC would prevent overrepresented communities from being hired until an optimal ethnic balance is achieved.
This policy aims to promote inclusivity and ensure that all ethnic groups have fair access to public sector jobs.
The issue of ethnic bias in hiring is not confined to universities alone. A report by the National Assembly’s National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee has similarly flagged state agencies for favoring certain ethnic groups.
The five communities predominantly holding public sector jobs are Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luhya, Luo, and Kamba, raising concerns about equitable representation.
