Governor Bii on the Spot as MCA, PWDs Expose Skewed County Hiring
Sergoit Ward MCA Hon. David Keitany tabled a motion directing the County Government to suspend the issuance of appointment letters until the Public Service Board complies with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Huruma Ward MCA Hon. Kimani Wanjohi addressing the press in Eldoret.
The High Court in Eldoret has been petitioned to issue conservatory orders halting the recent recruitment of 300 employees by the Uasin Gishu County Public Service Board, following allegations of blatant exclusion of minority communities and persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
Huruma Ward MCA Hon. Kimani Wanjohi, who filed the petition, accused Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration of presiding over the “worst case of discrimination in county employment since devolution.”
“In the latest recruitment, out of 300 positions, 298 went to members of the dominant community. Minority groups who are constitutionally entitled to 30 percent representation were reduced to a shocking 0.002 percent, while PWDs who should get 5 percent of opportunities were practically locked out,” Wanjohi told reporters in Eldoret.
He further contrasted the current administration with that of former Governor Jackson Mandago, saying:
“Under Mandago’s leadership, minority groups would at least get 10 percent of jobs. Today, they are completely sidelined. This is a county that hosts the President of the Republic and is considered cosmopolitan—yet employment opportunities are reserved for one community. This cannot stand.”
Wanjohi also faulted the composition of the recently sworn-in Eldoret Municipal Board, where all five members hail from the dominant community, terming it a deliberate disregard of inclusivity.
Auditor General’s Report Flags Bias
The Auditor General’s most recent report on Uasin Gishu County flagged the executive for non-adherence to inclusivity in employment, noting that recruitment exercises between 2023 and 2024 failed to reflect the county’s ethnic diversity. The report further warned that the county government had not met the minimum 30 percent threshold for minority groups nor the 5 percent requirement for persons with disabilities, in violation of Article 232 of the Constitution and the County Governments Act.
Legal Framework and Constitutional Breaches
The Kenyan Constitution (2010) is explicit on inclusivity in public appointments. Article 54(2) requires the state to ensure that at least 5 percent of public sector jobs are reserved for persons with disabilities. Section 5(2)(a) of the Persons with Disabilities Act obligates employers with more than 20 employees to meet this threshold.
Similarly, Article 232 on values and principles of public service, and Section 65 of the County Governments Act, require equitable representation of Kenya’s diverse communities in county employment, with minorities guaranteed up to 30 percent of opportunities.
“The Auditor General has already flagged Governor Bii’s administration for non-compliance with the law on employment quotas. This pattern of exclusion is systematic and deliberate,” Wanjohi said.
PWDs Petition County Assembly
Separately, persons with disabilities in Uasin Gishu have lodged a petition before the County Assembly challenging the recruitment exercise. The petition was received by Speaker Philip Muigei and debated on the floor of the House on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
Hon. Regina Chumba and Hon. Robert Kering, both representatives of PWDs, revealed shocking disparities in the recruitment process:
“Eighteen persons with disabilities were shortlisted, eight were interviewed, but in the final allocation of 300 positions, they only got 0.001 percent representation against the constitutionally guaranteed 5 percent,” Chumba said.
The PWDs’ umbrella body argued that this was a violation of Article 54(2) of the Constitution, the Persons with Disabilities Act, and the County Governments Act.
County Assembly Resolution
In response, Sergoit Ward MCA Hon. David Keitany tabled a motion directing the County Government to suspend the issuance of appointment letters until the Public Service Board complies with constitutional and statutory requirements.
“This Assembly cannot allow a recruitment exercise that openly disregards inclusivity, equity, and fairness. We must protect the rights of minority groups and PWDs as enshrined in our laws,” Keitany told the Assembly.
The Assembly resolved to deliberate on the PWD petition and compel the County Public Service Board to review the recruitment list to ensure compliance with the Constitution and the Persons with Disabilities Act.
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