The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) faces scrutiny after a High Court ruling deemed their recruitment practices unconstitutional. The court found that the agency’s recruitment of over 1,400 revenue service assistants in 2023 unfairly favored certain ethnic groups.
Kikuyu and Kalenjin Applicants Given Unfair Advantage
Justice William Musyoka presided over the case and found that the recruitment process significantly benefited applicants from the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities. He emphasized that, as a government agency, KRA is legally obligated to provide equal opportunities for all Kenyans, regardless of ethnicity or disability.
KRA’s Explanation Rejected by the Court
The court rejected KRA’s explanation that the two communities above had a larger pool of qualified applicants. Justice Musyoka pointed out that KRA hadn’t provided any data on the number of applicants from each ethnicity, making it impossible to verify their claims.
The judge suggested a more likely scenario: KRA chose the best candidates from those two specific ethnicities rather than considering all qualified applicants somewhat.
Court Order: Halt Recruitment and Implement Diversity Policy
Justice Musyoka issued a scathing rebuke, declaring the entire hiring process unconstitutional. He ordered KRA to stop further recruitment immediately until they develop a clear policy ensuring ethnic diversity and regional balance in their workforce. The judge set a strict deadline of 30 days for KRA to create this new policy.
The judge warned that without a fair and transparent hiring policy, KRA could easily fall back into its old ways, favoring certain ethnic groups and creating an unbalanced workforce. This decision is a significant reminder that Kenyan government agencies are legally obligated to treat all citizens equally.
Looking Ahead: Ensuring Equal Opportunity in Government Hiring
This case highlights the importance of fair and unbiased hiring practices in government institutions. It will be interesting to see how KRA responds to the court’s ruling and if they can implement a policy that guarantees equal opportunity for all Kenyans seeking employment with the agency.
