National Cohesion Committee Grills Independent Commissions Over Diversity Compliance
The lack of transparency, they noted, made it difficult to assess whether the constitutional principles of equity and fairness were being upheld.
The National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee of the National Assembly on Friday held a high-stakes meeting with the heads of three key Independent Commissions to deliberate on matters of ethnic diversity, employment equality, and procurement accountability. Photo/Parliament of Kenya.
By Robert Assad
The National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee of the National Assembly on Friday held a high-stakes meeting with the heads of three key Independent Commissions to deliberate on matters of ethnic diversity, employment equality, and procurement accountability.
Chaired by Hon. Adan Yussuf Haji, the committee summoned the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), and the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) to respond to queries about their compliance with constitutional requirements on diversity and inclusion.
The session was marked by tough questioning, as Members of Parliament raised concerns over the quality of documentation submitted by the Commissions.
According to the Committee, the reports presented lacked crucial evidence to demonstrate adherence to regulations concerning fair representation, equal opportunity employment, and inclusive procurement practices.
“After thoroughly reviewing your reports, we have noted significant gaps—especially in procurement records where critical details were omitted,” said Hon. Haji. “We expect documents that we can confidently table in the House to defend the Commissions on compliance with the law.”
Committee members took issue with the failure of the Commissions to provide clear data on ethnic composition, inclusion of marginalized groups, and the percentages related to allocation of jobs and tenders.
The lack of transparency, they noted, made it difficult to assess whether the constitutional principles of equity and fairness were being upheld.
In response, CAJ CEO Madam Mercy Wambua acknowledged the shortcomings in their report and committed to revising the submission to include the required evidence.
“Hon Chairman, we are well guided by the Committee on what is required to be added in our report,” she assured.
Similarly, Commissioner Koitamet Olekina of CRA was urged to revise their documents and include figures with relevant percentages to better reflect compliance levels.
In a firm directive, Hon. Haji instructed CRA Chairperson Mrs. Mary Wanyonyi to appear before the Committee in person on April 22 to address the unresolved accountability concerns.
The engagement underscores Parliament’s growing focus on ensuring that public institutions meet the thresholds for diversity, inclusivity, and transparency in service delivery. As Kenya continues to navigate the complexities of ethnic representation in public service, the role of oversight committees remains critical in upholding constitutional values.
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