Governor Bii Faces Senate Heat Over Eldoret City Workforce Diversity, Revenue Sustainability
“But from the list of board members, I don’t know when because we are Kalenjins, but within the Kalenjin we have sub-tribes inside,” Governor Bii told the committee.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim. Photo: Courtesy.
By Anneth Chepngetich
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim on Monday appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, where he faced tough questions over the composition of Eldoret City’s workforce, revenue collection and the city’s readiness to sustain its new status.
The committee raised concerns over a reported ethnic imbalance in the city’s workforce, with senators noting that about 90 per cent of employees were drawn from one community.
The senators also questioned the composition of the city board, pressing the county administration on whether Eldoret — Kenya’s fifth city which serves people from across the country — reflects national diversity as required by the Constitution.
In his response, Governor Bii defended his administration, arguing that there was diversity even within the Kalenjin community which dominates the North Rift region.
“But from the list of board members, I don’t know when because we are Kalenjins, but within the Kalenjin we have sub-tribes inside,” Governor Bii told the committee.
The remarks drew sharp reactions from senators, who warned that such an approach risked undermining national cohesion and inclusivity in public service.
Kajiado Senator Peris Tobiko cautioned that if every county adopted a similar stance, it would encourage ethnic balkanization and lock Kenyans out of opportunities outside their perceived home counties.
“If Kajiado adopts a style of Eldoret, then we will be telling other Kenyans everyone to go back to his home. It’s terrible. Eldoret must behave like other parts of Kenya,” Senator Tobiko said.
The committee’s concerns come amid a wider national debate on inclusivity in public employment and whether county governments are complying with constitutional requirements on equitable representation, fair competition and merit-based recruitment.
According to Parliament reports, the committee asked Governor Bii to review the city board’s legal framework and recruitment mechanisms to ensure future appointments reflect Kenya’s diversity and give all Kenyans a fair chance to serve in the city.
Questions on Financial Sustainability
Beyond workforce composition, senators also questioned whether Eldoret has adequate financial capacity to sustain its operations and deliver quality services following its elevation to city status in August 2024.
Committee Chairperson and Wajir Senator Mohammed Abbas questioned the county’s revenue strategy, noting that Eldoret’s current revenue streams remain limited compared to the growing demands of a city.
“This is Kenya. I don’t know what your plan is for the city. Convince and convince the House that the city will meet all requirements so that you will not be embarrassed again next time that the city has failed,” Abbas told Governor Bii.
The committee noted that Eldoret currently collects about KSh1.2 billion annually in own-source revenue, raising questions about whether the amount is sufficient to finance critical functions such as road maintenance, waste management, street lighting, public amenities, and urban planning.
In his defence, Governor Bii explained that the official figures tabled before the Senate did not fully capture revenue generated by health facilities. He said Eldoret’s actual own-source revenue rises to approximately KSh1.7 billion when hospital revenues, including Facility Improvement Funds (FIF), are included.
The Governor also outlined his administration’s plan to expand the revenue base by leveraging Eldoret’s strengths in sports, healthcare, agriculture, logistics and education. He cited the city’s position as a regional hub for athletics, its growing health tourism sector, and its potential to attract investment in warehousing and value addition.
The Senate committee has since directed the county government to review the composition of the city board, rationalise its human-resource structures and develop concrete measures to improve revenue collection and seal leakages.
The scrutiny comes as Eldoret continues to adjust to its new status as a city, with senators insisting that the elevation must be matched by inclusive governance, stronger revenue generation and improved service delivery to meet the expectations of residents and investors.
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