40% of Nairobi County Staff From Kikuyu Community, Senate Probes Sakaja
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja found himself on the defensive Friday as he appeared before the Senate Cohesion Committee to address concerns over the ethnic makeup of Nairobi City County employees.
The governor revealed that approximately 40% of the county’s workforce, including high-ranking officials, hails from the Kikuyu community. This disclosure comes amid growing scrutiny of ethnic representation in key government positions, particularly in cosmopolitan cities like Nairobi.
According to Sakaja, of the more than 16,000 employees working for the Nairobi City County, about 6,000 belong to the Kikuyu community.
Additionally, 15 out of 39 County Executive Committee Members (CECM) and Chief Officers are from the Kikuyu community, raising eyebrows given the county’s diverse demographic composition.
Appearing before the Senate committee tasked with ensuring cohesion in the country’s devolved units, Sakaja explained the county’s hiring process, stating that it is reflective of historical trends but that steps are being taken to address imbalances.
“The number of staff we have is 16,321. It’s the biggest staff component in the country in terms of devolution, because we also have the biggest population; we serve 7 million Nairobians during the day and 5 million at night,” he explained to the committee.
Sakaja further elaborated on the ethnic distribution of the county’s workforce, providing a detailed breakdown that revealed stark contrasts. “Out of 16,321, the highest is the mountain at 6,173 from Kikuyu, 2,370 from Luo, 1,954 Kambas, 1,945 Luhyas, 1,360 Kisiis, 899 Kalenjins, 469 Merus, 221 Embus, 144 Maasais, 123 Somalis, 101 Taitas, 76 Mijikendas, and 74 Mbeere.” These figures indicate that the Kikuyu community represents a substantial portion of the county’s workforce, far surpassing other ethnic groups in numbers.
The committee, however, noted that efforts have been made to balance the county’s workforce in terms of age demographics. Over the past two years, Nairobi County has employed a significant number of young people, a trend that Governor Sakaja highlighted as an important step toward inclusivity.
In defense of his administration’s hiring practices, Sakaja stressed that diversity goes beyond ethnicity, pointing out that his government has prioritized both age and experience in key appointments. “I believe in young people. I am less than 40 years old as the Governor of Nairobi, but I also believe in drawing wisdom from the old,” Sakaja remarked. “I have ensured that both young and old are represented in the cabinet.”
He provided examples to underline his commitment to diversity, citing his County Executive Committee Member for Lands, who joined the county government as far back as 1985, alongside his youthful Health CECM, who is under the age of 30.
This balanced approach, Sakaja argued, ensures that Nairobi benefits from the energy and innovation of the youth while also tapping into the wisdom and experience of older generations.
The issue of ethnic representation in public institutions remains a contentious subject in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, a city that serves as a melting pot for all of Kenya’s ethnic communities.
While Sakaja’s government has made strides in bridging the age gap, the Senate Cohesion Committee will likely continue to scrutinize the ethnic disparities in the county’s workforce to ensure equitable representation across all communities.
As the county navigates these challenges, Governor Sakaja has reaffirmed his commitment to building a more inclusive Nairobi, one that reflects the city’s unique cultural and ethnic diversity.
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40% of Nairobi County Staff From Kikuyu Community, Senate Probes Sakaja
