ADVISORY TO THE NATIONAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF EQUALITY AND INCLUSION PRINCIPLES IN APPOINTMENTS TO PUBLIC SERVICE

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) is established pursuant to Articles 59 (4) and (5) of the Constitution and operationalized through the National Gender and Equality Commission Act, 2011 (NGEC Act). Its overall mandate is the promotion of gender equality and freedom from discrimination in line with Article 27 of the Constitution. The Commission’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) include women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), children, the elderly, and minorities and marginalized groups.

We note that the period after a general election is characterized by active recruitment and appointments into public service jobs. In line with our mandate and touching on the need to have special interest groups participate in National Development (NGEC Act, 2011,8(d), we wish to take this early opportunity to appeal to the appointing authorities and those responsible for vetting proposed holders of Public office including Senior government officers, Parastatal heads, County Executive Committee members, Chief Officers, Senior county government officers among others to uphold equality and inclusion principles enumerated in the Constitution and in various pieces of legislation specifically: Article 10, Article 27, Article 54 (2), Article 55 (b), Article 56 (a) and the County Governments Act, 2012 section 65(e) to ensure that;

1.  Appointments comply with the not more than two-thirds gender principle at all levels and to take affirmative action where fair competition and merit fails to bring this desired result;
2.  The youth, minority and marginalized groups are fairly represented; and 
3. That persons with disabilities(PWDs) are also included 

Likewise, the Commission calls upon all special interest groups (Women, Youth, PWDs, Minority and marginalized communities) to take special interest on the opportunities available across the Public Sector and express this interest by applying for advertised positions.

The Commission shall continue to monitor the integration of the principles of equality and inclusion in all spheres of life in line with its mandate.

DR. Florence Wachira, MBS. 
Commissioner