Kenya Revenue Authority to Roll Out New Diversity-Driven Hiring Policy Following High Court Ruling

In response to recent criticism and a consequential High Court ruling, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is set to introduce a revamped hiring policy aimed at fostering diversity and inclusivity in its recruitment process. This change stems from a March 2024 ruling by the High Court, which annulled the KRA's 2023 recruitment of 1,406 revenue service assistants. The court found that the recruitment process had disproportionately favored candidates from the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities, thereby sidelining other ethnic groups across the nation.

The lawsuit, initiated by Peter Orogo, brought these discrepancies to light, leading to a legal mandate for KRA to halt further recruitment until a more balanced and equitable hiring policy is in place. As a result, KRA announced its commitment to developing a new diversity and inclusion policy aimed at rectifying these imbalances.

This forthcoming policy will be structured to ensure fair representation of all ethnic groups within the organization. It will enforce the two-thirds gender rule, promote affirmative action for the youth and marginalized communities, and work toward achieving a five percent inclusion rate for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

KRA has emphasized that the new shortlisting process will place special consideration on under-represented groups, ensuring that factors such as ethnic diversity, gender balance, and opportunities for PWDs are given priority.

Moreover, as part of its affirmative action initiatives, the KRA plans to reserve specific job positions and create succession plans to maintain ongoing inclusivity and equitable representation. This strategic move signifies the authority’s commitment to building a workforce that better reflects the diverse fabric of Kenyan society.

The development of this policy is a crucial step towards addressing the representation gaps within KRA's workforce, where currently, despite representing 38 out of Kenya's 48 ethnic communities, some communities remain over-represented, others under-represented, and ten ethnic groups are not represented at all.

With these upcoming changes, KRA aims to ensure that its recruitment process is transparent, fair, and truly reflective of Kenya’s rich ethnic diversity