Eldoret: The Public Service Commission (PSC) has urged County Public Service Boards (CPSBs) and County Assembly Service Boards (CASBs) across Kenya’s 47 counties to strictly adhere to the 30 percent employment rule. This regulation mandates that no single ethnic community should comprise more than one-third of the total workforce in any public establishment.
According to Kenya News Agency, PSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Famba emphasized the importance of this rule during a three-day capacity-building forum in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. Famba highlighted that employing individuals from various ethnic communities would not only bring in diverse expertise and experience but also foster national cohesion and integration.
The PSC has processed 233 appeals and reviewed 24 applications this year, revealing a significant gap in human resource management and unfair labor practices within the counties. This prompted the capacity-building initiative aimed at CPSBs, CASBs, and county executives, focusing on enhancing efficiency, skill development, knowledge sharing, and identifying collaborative opportunities between the Commission and Counties.
Famba praised Muranga County for effectively implementing the law by hiring experts from different regions and urged other counties to follow this exemplary model. He stated, “We are capacity building you to ensure an excellent public service to support the president’s ambition to make Kenya a first world country. Just be fair to everyone and ensure 30 percent of your staff come from outside the county. This will help us see the spirit of national integration.”
The County Government Act (2012) mandates CPSBs to ensure at least 30 percent of entry-level employees are not from the county’s dominant ethnic group. This aligns with the National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008, which aims to promote national unity, equality, and inclusivity by ensuring public institutions reflect Kenya’s ethnic diversity.
Proper implementation of this requirement would prevent ethnic dominance in county public services, ensuring balanced representation and fair access to public sector jobs. It counters the persistent issue of ethnic bias in recruitment, promoting merit-based hiring and fostering a more inclusive and effective public service.
The regulation is part of the government’s efforts to create a public service reflective of the entire Kenyan population, upholding constitutional principles of professional ethics, integrity, accountability, and equitable service provision.
The event was attended by notable figures including PSC Vice Chairperson Mary Kimonye, Deputy Commission Secretary-Legal Services Jacqueline Manani, PSC Commissioner Boya Molu, PSC Director John Njorio, and Uasin Gishu County Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea.
