The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is conducting an internal audit of its ethnic composition to ensure that its workforce reflects the diversity of Kenya.
KRA Chairperson Ndiritu Muriithi announced on Tuesday that the board has directed management to present a staff audit report in the coming days.
Speaking in an interview on NTV, the former Laikipia governor emphasised the board’s commitment to correcting past mistakes related to alleged ethnic bias in hiring.
He assured that future recruitment processes would prioritise diversity to ensure KRA represents all Kenyans.
“We have faced some challenges in the past, and I believe that’s what necessitated changes in leadership. However, a stumble is not a fall—we are back on track,” Muriithi said.
“As a board, we recently requested an updated review or audit to assess the ethnic composition of our workforce.”
Muriithi reiterated that KRA belongs to all Kenyans and vowed to uphold equity and fairness in job distribution moving forward.
“Under my leadership, that is the principle we will uphold,” he affirmed.
The chairperson noted that management is expected to present its staff audit report next Thursday.
“We want an internal assessment of where we stand so that future hiring can address any existing imbalances,” he explained.
Muriithi added that the board would take deliberate steps to ensure the workforce is representative of Kenya’s diverse communities.
A 2019 hiring report presented to the National Assembly's National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee revealed a significant ethnic imbalance within KRA’s senior leadership.
The report showed that members of the Kikuyu community held nearly half of the senior executive positions at the tax agency.
Out of 133 senior management roles, 50 were occupied by the community, accounting for 37.59 per cent of the workforce.
The remaining 83 positions were distributed among 41
other Kenyan ethnic groups.
Of the 83 slots, Luhyas are 19, Luos 16, Kamba 13, Kisii 9, Kalenjin 8, Meru 4, Embu 2, with Tharaka, Samburu, Maasai, Burji among others having one member each.
