NCIC director of programmes Millicent Okech and commissioners Morris Dzoro and Roba Sharamo at Sea View Resort in Malindi on November 25, 2017. [Photo|The Star]
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has proposed changes to some sections of the County Government Act to allow the imposition of hefty penalties on governors who fail to meet the ethnic balance requirements hiring county staff.
The Act provides that 70 percent of the employees can come from the dominant ethnic group in a county, while 30 percent must go to the minorities.
Commissioner Roba Sharamo on Wednesday said governors must be held accountable in their work.
"If a governor violates the law and uses public funds to enrich members of one ethnic community or region, he or she will be liable to a penalty of up to Sh10 million," Sharamo said at White Rhino Hotel in Nyeri town, after a training of County Service Board members from 14 counties, as quoted by Star.
Some counties have up to 90 percent of the dominant communities as CECs and other county staffs which is illegal.
Sharamo noted that some sections of the Act are 'very weak' and need to be strengthened adding that the hefty penalties will also apply to the chairpersons of the County Public Service Boards.
"County Public Service Boards also have a role in ensuring the law is complied with during appointments and hirings. So, they will equally be treated guilty where cases of inappropriate hiring arise," he added.
He noted that the commission have received several complaints from the counties concerning bias during recruitments.
Similar problems are being experienced in parastatals and public universities and they are a threat to national cohesion, Sharamo added.