By Dorothy Musyoka
The Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration has questioned the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) over its commitment to inclusivity and equitable representation within its workforce.
In a meeting held at Parliament Buildings, the committee chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Said Chute engaged with KNBS Director General Macdonald G. Obudho to seek clarity on how the agency reflects Kenya’s diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The lawmakers raised questions about the bureau’s compliance with legal frameworks such as the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (Cap 412C) and the implementation of affirmative action programs targeting youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
Responding to the committee, Mr. Obudho emphasized KNBS’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, noting that the bureau has put in place proactive recruitment strategies and regularly monitors its human resource policies.
“The bureau has adopted proactive recruitment strategies, affirmative action policies, and consistent monitoring and evaluation of its human resource policies,” he noted.
He stated that persons with disabilities make up at least five percent of the KNBS workforce, and that the organization complies with the constitutional two-thirds gender rule.
Ethnic representation, gender and disability mainstreaming, and leadership development programs have also been incorporated to promote a diverse and inclusive environment,” added the KNBS Director.
However, the committee found the Director General’s response lacking in supporting documentation and directed him to submit further evidence within seven days.
The documents includes a comprehensive gender mainstreaming policy and disaggregated data showing the percentage of youth, men, women, and PWDs currently employed by KNBS.
The committee emphasized the role of national agencies in setting standards for inclusivity and equitable representation in across all public sector.
Established under the Statistics Act (CAP 112), KNBS is Kenya’s official statistics agency and plays a critical role in collecting, analyzing, and disseminating national data.