Committee on Implementation takes authority to task over workforce diversity shortfalls

Committee on Implementation takes authority to task over workforce diversity shortfalls 

Friday, April 25, 2025

A Parliamentary Committee has deemed as ‘not good’ enough, improvements claims on workforce diversity at the Anti- Counterfeit Authority, a shortfall flagged by the Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity in 2023 in its report to the House.

While delivering the Committee’s verdict, Implementation Committee Chairperson, Hon. Raphael Wanjala directed that the Authority fully implements the House Resolution and reports back on the progress in 6-months time. 

The CEO of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority Mr. Robi Njoroge while appearing before the Committee this afternoon, had claimed that the Authority has made notable progress in enhancing diversity within its workforce in line with recommendations of the House.

The recommendations stem from the First Report on Employment Diversity Audit in Public Institutions by the Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity. 

In the Report dated June 2023, the Committee found out that only sixteen (16) out of the forty-six (46) ethnic groups had been employed by the Authority contrary to the provisions of Article 232 (1) (h) and (i) of the Constitution. 

According to the report, at senior management level, only nine (9) ethnic groups were represented, namely; Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Kamba, Mijikenda, Somali, Kisii, Turkana, Luo and Luhya

Majority of employees at the Authority then were from four (4) communities namely; Kikuyu at 18.10%, Luo at 13.30%, Kalenjin at 11.40% and Kamba at 11.40%

The findings indicted the Authority for non compliance complied with Article 54 (2) on the 5% threshold of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) employment at 0.9%

Further, the Committee found that there were only three (3) female staff out of eleven (11) in the composition at Senior Management level. 

The House in the consideration of the Report recommended that ACA should expand the scope of the job advertisements in order to reach more ethnic groups

The House further directed the Authority to work closely with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) on job advertisements in order to reach more Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

Among the recommendations that the Committee on Implementation shone a spotlight on in today’s meeting, are the directive that the Authority employs affirmative action measures in employment to enhance diversity representation of all the forty-six (46) ethnic groups in the Authority, in line with Article 232 of the Constitution

The Committee also scrutinized if the Authority had provide adequate and equal opportunities for appointment, training and advancements of all levels in terms of ethnicity, age, gender and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as directed by the House.

The lawmakers further asked the Authority to provide evidence that they had employed affirmative action measures towards recruiting all the forty-six (46) in line with Article 232 of the Constitution, besides expanding their scope of the job advertisements which will enable it to reach more ethnic groups.

While the Authority noted that they had made progress from 16 to 19 ethnic representation out of the fourth six (46) ethnic groups, they acknowledged that there was still underrepresention of persons with disabilities, at 0.9%. 

Members of the Committee expressed their dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the lack of affirmative action for persons with disabilities. 

Trans Nzoia County MP, Hon. Lilian Siyoi emphasizd that there was need to be deliberate in the enhancing the numbers of persons with disability. 

“You have subjected people with disability at the same requirements and expecting to improve their representation at the Authority”, pointed out Hon. Siyoi. 

Echoing this sentiment, Mandera South MP, Hon. Haro Abdul Ibrahim noted, “You need to be a bit strategic in your recruitment policy if you’re to meet this constitutional imperative.

The Chairperson Hon. Raphael Wanjala also raised concerns about gender imbalance at the management level. 

“Why is it taking you too long to get equal representation of ladies at the management level yet you don’t have to wait for a fresh recruitment to do so?”, Hon. Wanjala asked.

“Why not promote those already serving who have experience and have met the requirements?”, he further enquired. 

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Njoroge committed to uphold the principles of national cohesion and equal opportunity as enshrined in the constitution with regular updates to the Committee on progress made in that regard.