The Public Service Commission (PSC) has assured minority and marginalised communities that they will get equal opportunities for recruitment in all government jobs because the Commission seeks to reflect the face of Kenya.
The commission further urged all Kenyans to apply for the 3, 200 advertised positions in the civil service insisting that all advertised positions are not limited to any specific community since the constitution requires that all communities be represented.
Speaking today during a brief meeting with representatives of some of the minority communities, PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo said that the commission is guided by the constitution in discharging its mandate.
“The commission operates purely on principles set out in Article 232 of the constitution which provides that all appointments should be merit based, have a representation of Kenya’s diverse communities affording adequate and equal opportunities for appointment, training and advancement, at all levels of the public service,” explained Kirogo.
According to the commission they are guided by the principles which also require them to give equal opportunities to men, women and persons with disabilities.
“As much as we encourage the minority groups to apply for these positions we also encourage them to meet the education standards required,” he said.
Martin Simeto who was representing the Ogiek community from Mount Elgon said that majority of the youth in his community tend to fall on the wrong side of the law basically because of lack of job opportunities.
“Most of these youth engage in cattle rustling and banditry leading to increased cases of insecurity in the area,” he said.
Simeto further noted that most of the people from the minority community tend to only take up the teaching career and police service and they have limited opportunities in top government jobs.
Moses Leleu an elder from the Sengwer community said that the minority communities lag behind in education matters and called on the commission to have affirmative action where the communities’ entry grades can be at least one level lower in job appointments.
Leleu said that they have been working with the ministry of health where they have their community members undertaking the nursing course and get jobs after graduation while the ministry of education informs them when there are job opportunities so that they can apply.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a and Yvonne Kadzo
