The Senate Committee on Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration has urged county governments to strictly adhere to the constitutional thresholds for staff employment, emphasizing the importance of reflecting Kenya’s diverse population in the county workforce.
The committee, led by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute, made this appeal during a visit to Lamu County Governor Hon. Issa Timamy on Tuesday.
The visit was aimed to establish whether the county has upheld equity in its workforce.
Chute emphasized that counties must prioritize inclusivity across various parameters, including ethnic composition, gender parity, age, and the representation of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The committee expressed concerns over the low representation of PWDs.
The committee discovered that Lamu County employs only 18 PWDs, constituting one per cent of its workforce, far below the constitutional threshold of five per cent.
"PWDs are completely disadvantaged, and we are pleading with institutions not to sideline them when it comes to employment opportunities," Senator Chute stated.
The Lamu County Public Board, chaired by Mr. Abdalla Mohamed, attributed the low PWD employment to the county's challenging terrain, which has deterred many PWDs from seeking jobs in the County.
Lamu Senator, Githuku Kamau in his response advised the County to leverage social media and vernacular radio stations for job advertisements to reach a broader audience.
The Committee's investigation revealed a significant youth presence in the county workforce but raised concerns over the employment of elderly staff.
"Can the Governor please explain to us why staff as old as 74 years old are still in employment at the expense of young people?" Senator Betty Montet asked.
The County Public Board defended the hires, stating that they were inherited from the previous administration and retained to train new staff.
However, the Committee demanded a detailed report on the elderly employees within a week.
The Committee commended Lamu County for its ethnic inclusivity, with employees from 35 out of Kenya's 42 ethnic communities.
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy highlighted the County’s efforts to comply with the County Government's Act of 2012, which states that not more than 70% of county public service positions should be filled by individuals from the dominant ethnic community in the county.
"The county in its bid to comply with the provision of the law has considered the merit of not more than 70% position slots for occupation," he said.
Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera emphasized the need for counties to follow constitutional guidelines in their hiring processes.
The Governor assured the Committee that Lamu County is committed to affirmative action policies to enhance the recruitment of PWDs, women, and minority groups, aligning with national policies and the county's dedication to diversity.
