The Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration has commended the Social Health Authority for upholding inclusivity in its staff composition.
The Committee, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Said Chute, expressed satisfaction that the Social Health Authority (SHA) had upheld fair employment practices, including the inclusion of communities that have long been marginalized.
The SHA CEO , Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, presented to legislators a comprehensive list of all recently recruited employees.
The Committee had raised concerns about the recent allegations that recruitment favored a single ethnic group and therefore requested clarification from the Authority.
The CEO informed the Committee that the Authority had adhered to inclusivity in its employment,revealing that its workforce reflected broad ethnic diversity drawn from across Kenya.
In the report submitted to the Committee, the Authority disclosed that its staff comprised individuals from 40 different ethnic communities, demonstrating deliberate efforts to uphold national cohesion and integration.
“No single ethnic group exceeds the legal threshold of one-third of the total workforce, in line with the National Cohesion and Integration Act, Mwangagi assured the Committee.
According to the report,the largest representations include the Kalenjin (17.7%), Somali (14.0%), Kikuyu (12.1%), and Kamba (10.5%), followed by Kisii (6.4%), Luhya and Luo communities at 7.8% each. Several smaller communities, including minority and marginalized groups, are also represented in smaller proportions.
The Authority noted that this diverse composition reflected its adherence to constitutional principles on equality, non-discrimination, and inclusivity, as well as compliance with statutory requirements on ethnic balance in public service.
“By incorporating staff from a wide range of communities, SHA aims to strengthen public trust, promote fairness in employment, and ensure that the institution mirrors the rich social fabric of the nation,”the CEO said..
By Anthony Solly
