NATIONAL COHESION AND INTEGRATION COMMISSION HOLD A CONSULTATIVE FORUM WITH THE COUNTY PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD
Leveraging diversity among county employees helps to create programs and services that meet the diverse needs of a county government. By cultivating a diverse workforce, employees are able to come up with ideas that improve the lives of all residents hence achieving the sustainable development goals.
Board Members following the presentation
The National cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) convened a sensitization forum with the members of the county Public service board. The objective of the forum was to develop strategies that are geared towards ensuring inclusivity and compliance in employing county staff with reference to the developed minimum standards and principles for recruitment.
Ezekiel Chemwor and Irene Choge at the event
Speaking during the forum, Commissioner Hon. Philip Okundi noted that the current composition of the staff is skewed towards the dominant community and urged the County Public Service Board to progressively improve on ensuring equal opportunities for all ethnic groups. He emphasized on the need for the County Public Service Board to ensure that issues around gender inequality, marginalization and exclusion are addressed. . He was accompanied by Kyalo Mwengi, Assistant Director Complaints, Legal and Enforcement, Catherine Gakuru, Assistant Director Investigations Mr. Kyalo Mwengi, Assistant Director, Complaints, Legal and Enforcement, NCIC Senior Legal Officer, Mr. Jackson Mwikamba.
Mr. Kyallo Mwengi giving a presentation.
Mr. Kyalo Mwengi, gave a presentation on the minimum Standards and Principles for Recruitment to Ensure Inclusiveness and Diversity at the County Level. He urged the county public service board to always strike a balance in ensuring that there is equality during the employment process. This will be achieved by ensuring that they adhere to the principle of giving equal opportunities to all and considering People living With Disabilities (PWDs) and those from maginalized areas . He also emphasized on the need to have open days by the County public service board to showcase their work and sensitize the public on the recruitment processes.
During the forum, Mr. Jackson Mwikamba, disseminated the results of the ethnic audit of staff that was done in 2016. According to the results the county had 1129 staff members 81% of the employees were from the Kalenjin community,10.4% from the Luhya community, Luo form the 2.6 While 6% were from other ethnic communities.
Nandi County Public Service Board CEO Jacob Sisey expressed great satisfaction with the NCIC and its role in guiding institutions on what the Constitution and County Acts stipulates. He thanked the NCIC team for the sensitization forum in that it had taught the members on the essence of diversity as a key objective in fostering national unity.
Sisey underscored that the county public service board has been able to demonstrate inclusivity and transparency by employing 30% non-residents, fulfilling the affirmative action of the marginalized wards within the county and bearing in mind people living with disabilities.
Present during the event were the board members, Irine Choge,Ezekiel Chemwor,Daniel Mwogoi,Member of County Assembly Osborn Komen, Stella Rutto member County Assembly Public Service Philister Maiyo,Deputy Director Administration and Nancy Jeruto Deputy Legal Officer,CPSB