Report Reveals Kikuyus and Luos Form Majority of Staff at KEMSA

A report submitted to the parliamentary committee reveals that Kikuyus, Luos and Luhyas form the bulk of staff at Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA). 

The report disclosed that the agency has employed 747 people with Kikuyus representing 22.89%, Luos 17.40% and Luhyas 14.06%. The report commended KEMSA for embracing employee diversity in line with gender, age, and ethnicity. At Kemsa, no tribe occupies job positions of more than a third of the staff population. 

 “KEMSA has complied with the National Cohesion and Integration Act 2008 by ensuring that the employees are diverse in terms of gender, age and ethnicity. No single ethnic group has more than a third of the staff with the highest being 22 per cent,” the report said. 

Other tribes are represented as follows Kamba (85), Kalenjin (74), Kisii (56), Meru (37), Somali (24) and Sabaot (20). KEMSA said that it has employed fewer persons living with disabilities due to its job operation that demands physical energy to load medical boxes. They added that their recruitment leans on youthful and energetic people.  

 “Due to the nature of our operations which requires physical energy to pick and load medical commodities, there is a need for us to recruit staff with certain demographics leanings; that is young and energetic people. Hence, our demographics will have fewer staff with disabilities,” the agency said. 

The agency has said that the improvement of its working environment through the modernization of its warehouse will see the number of persons living with disabilities increase in the agency. KEMSA highlighted their stance on promoting equal opportunities, reporting that their recruitment is not charred with discrimination based on gender, race, religion, colour, ethnicity, disability, marital status or culture.