This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
On July 23, 2019, a report by the Public Service Commission (PSC) shed light on the ethnic composition of the commission, revealing a concerning imbalance in representation.
The report, tabled in Parliament, showed that the five ethnic groups - Kikuyu, Luhya, Kisii, Maasai, and Embu - control 53.3% of the 223 jobs at the commission.
According to the report, these five groups hold 119 jobs, leaving the remaining 104 slots to be shared among the other 43 ethnic groups.
Speaking to the National Assembly Committee on National Cohesion, PSC chairman Stephen Kirogo acknowledged the imbalance and stated that the commission is working towards achieving a balanced workforce.
Under the diversity policy for State Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, released in December 2015, ethnic groups whose job representation surpasses their corresponding national population proportion are considered over-represented.
The policy aimed to address the issue of over-representation by setting hiring quotas for ethnic groups and disadvantaged classes.
According to the 2009 Census, Kikuyus hold 52 jobs or 23.3% of the positions, exceeding their quota. Embu, Kisii, Luhyas, and Maasai also overshoot their population proportions by 2.2%, 1.8%, 1.7%, and 1.3%, respectively.
