Wednesday, 4 June, 2025
House Committee grills KenGen MD over discrimination against persons living with disabilities
July 3rd, 2025Bunge Towers
The Managing Director of Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Eng. Peter Njenga, was taken to task by the National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunity over the company’s failure to comply with legal requirements regarding the employment of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).
The Committee, chaired by Mandera West MP Hon. Adan Yussuf Haji, expressed concern over KenGen’s non-compliance with the law, which mandates that at least five per cent of an organization’s workforce should comprise PLWDs.
According to a report tabled by Eng. Njenga, only 51 out of KenGen’s 2,437 employees — equivalent to just two per cent — are PLWDs.
"KenGen has not complied with the legal requirement that at least five per cent of staff be PLWDs. We currently stand at only two per cent," Eng. Njenga admitted to the Committee.
Committee Members led by chairperson Hon. Haji, Nakuru County MP Hon. Liza Chelule and Nyeri Town MP Hon. Duncan Mathenge, dismissed the company’s justifications as inadequate.
“This law has been in effect for nearly 15 years. The reasons given for non-compliance are no longer acceptable,” said Hon. Haji and added: “You have not even reached half of the minimum threshold.”
Hon. Mathenge criticized the recurring excuse that PLWDs do not apply for advertised positions.
“This explanation is no longer tenable. KenGen has done very little to ensure that job advertisements are accessible to PLWDs,” he stated.
Hon. Chelule emphasized the role of MPs and local networks in facilitating employment for PLWDs.
“We have access to data on PLWDs and live among them. There are numerous organizations affiliated with them that could help connect them with job opportunities. KenGen should actively engage with these groups,” she urged.
Further concerns were raised over KenGen’s reporting on ethnic representation within its workforce.
MPs Hon. Haji and Kamukunji’s Hon. Yussuf Hassan Abdi questioned the company’s profiling of the Somali community, after Eng. Njenga’s report referred to them specifically as "Kenyan Somalis" — a distinction not applied to other ethnic groups.
“Why single them out as ‘Kenyan Somalis’ while other communities are not labeled in such a manner?” posed Hon. Haji.
In response, Eng. Njenga clarified that the terminology used was based on the national census classification, which listed the Somali community in that format.
The KenGen MD assured the Committee of the company’s commitment to improving compliance with legal provisions on diversity and inclusion.
“We are putting measures in place to ensure full compliance with the law on both ethnic diversity and equal employment opportunities,” Eng. Njenga affirmed.
And added: “We are committed to working with this Committee to progressively meet these requirements.”