The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is under intense scrutiny after revelations surfaced that nearly half of its workforce hails from just two ethnic communities, raising red flags about institutional bias and non-compliance with national diversity mandates.
Appearing before the Senate National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration Committee, CBK Governor Kamau Thugge admitted that the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities dominate the bank’s staffing, sparking widespread concerns over equitable employment practices.
Out of the bank’s 1,311 employees, 325 are Kikuyu and 258 are Kalenjin, a combined total of 583 — approximately 44.5% of the entire workforce.
“From your presentation, the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities take up almost 50 percent of CBK jobs. Even internship positions are being disproportionately given to the Kalenjin community. This is unacceptable,” said committee chair Mohammed Chute, openly criticizing the disparity.
Other communities represented include Luo (139), Kamba (123), Luhya (113), Kisii (90), Meru (66), Maasai (31), Taita (30), Mijikenda (25), Embu (17), Somali (13), and Borana (7). Marginalized groups such as Kuria, Mbeere, and Turkana reportedly each have only five employees within CBK.
Facing bipartisan criticism, Governor Thugge acknowledged the imbalance, pointing to the looming retirement of 35% of staff (around 455 employees aged between 51–60) as an opportunity for course correction.
“We acknowledge that the positions have been skewed in favour of two dominant communities. We will address the employment of other communities in subsequent recruitment processes,” he said.
Thugge maintained that CBK staff currently represent 31 ethnic groups, covering 67% of Kenya’s 46 recognised communities, and emphasized the bank’s effort to comply with Article 232 of the Constitution, which mandates fair competition and representation in public service.
However, Senators demanded deeper transparency. Okiya Omtatah and Dan Maanzo called for a breakdown of leadership and promotion patterns, particularly in CBK’s six branches — Kisumu, Kisii, Mombasa, Nyeri, Eldoret, and Nakuru.
“We want to know the spread of the heads of CBK’s branches and their ethnic composition. Also, how are recruitments and promotions handled?” Omtatah pressed.
Governor Thugge promised to provide a full report detailing branch leadership and promotion decisions over the past 16 months. He also defended the bank’s recruitment process, noting that it involves six panellists, including external HR experts, to maintain impartiality.
CBK further pledged to collaborate with county governments and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities To boost inclusivity and equal opportunity in upcoming hires.
As Kenya grapples with the delicate balance between meritocracy and ethnic representation, the Senate’s push for accountability signals a broader demand for equity and national cohesion in public institutions — starting with the very heart of the economy.
By Kelly Were
