A recent audit by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has uncovered a significant ethnic imbalance in the composition of Kenya's state corporation boards. The report reveals that seven communities occupy nearly four out of every five board positions, raising concerns about inclusivity and diversity in public sector appointments.

Key Findings

  • The seven dominant communities are Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luhya, Luo, Kisii, Kamba, and Meru.
  • These groups account for 79% of all board appointments, with Kikuyu leading at 22.84% (422 members), followed by Kalenjin at 15.37% (284 members), and Luhya at 10.93% (202 members).
  • The Luo community holds 10.01% of positions (185 members), Kisii 7.9% (146 members), Kamba 6.66% (123 members), and Meru 5.36% (99 members).
  • Other communities, including Kenyan-Somali, Maasai, Turkana, and Embu, have significantly fewer representatives.

Audit Scope and Response

The audit covered 202 state corporations out of 3,432, achieving a 77% response rate from entities requested to submit data. The information collected detailed board members’ ethnicity, gender, age, and disability status as of March 2025.

Recommendations for Inclusive Appointments

NGEC urges appointing authorities to promote balanced representation by considering gender, ethnic diversity, and inclusivity when making board appointments. The commission calls on cabinet secretaries and the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC) to ensure compliance with constitutional mandates, including the two-thirds gender rule and national values of governance.

Further, state corporations are encouraged to implement policies such as the National Policy on Gender and Development to enhance equitable representation across all communities.