Kenyatta University is in hot water after the Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee grilled its acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Waceke Wanjohi, over its controversial employment practices. In a heated session on Thursday, lawmakers were left fuming as they uncovered a blatant disregard for Kenyan talent and legal requirements.
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Yussuf Adan Haji, zeroed in on the university’s decision to employ foreigners from across the globe, including Cameroon, Burundi, Egypt, Germany, India, Poland, Rwanda, and Somalia. The burning question on everyone’s lips: Why are Kenyans being overlooked for jobs in their own country?
“What is the justification for hiring foreigners when qualified Kenyans are readily available?” asked a visibly agitated Hon. Haji. “The law is crystal clear—foreigners should only be employed for roles requiring skills that Kenyans lack. This university’s actions are questionable, to say the least.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Nominated MP Hon. Irene Mayaka revealed an alarming detail—the university had employed a foreigner whose country of origin was conspicuously missing from the official report. “This raises serious transparency issues,” she remarked.
Prof. Wanjohi, in her defence, claimed that foreign hires were necessary for curriculum development and teaching foreign languages. But the Committee wasn’t buying it. They pressed on, questioning why some of the university’s employees are well past the mandatory retirement age, with one lecturer clocking in at an astonishing 76 years old.
“Retaining staff beyond the age of 65 is not only illegal but also denies younger, qualified Kenyans job opportunities,” Hon. Mayaka pointed out. The VC’s response? A weak justification that these elderly employees were lecturers with “invaluable experience.”
But that wasn’t the end of the grilling. The Committee took the university to task over its dismal record on hiring People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs). With only 78 PLWDs employed across all its campuses, the university is in clear violation of the law, which mandates more inclusive hiring practices. Kajiado North MP Hon. Onesmus Ngoyoyo didn’t mince words: “It’s unacceptable for the university to claim that PLWDs aren’t applying. The issue is with the university’s recruitment policies, not the applicants.”
As if the foreign hires and age violations weren’t enough, the Committee exposed a shocking lack of ethnic diversity among the staff. Despite being situated in a cosmopolitan area, the university’s hiring practices heavily favor one community, leaving others out in the cold.
Nyeri Town MP Hon. Duncan Mathenge blasted the university’s approach: “This institution is supposed to represent the face of Kenya, but instead, it’s perpetuating ethnic imbalance. This is not just wrong—it’s dangerous.”
Hon. Fred Ikana of Shinyalu echoed these sentiments, warning that the university’s actions could lead to deeper societal divisions. “The message Kenyatta University is sending is clear: If you’re not from a certain community, you need not apply,” he said.
With the Committee’s findings now out in the open, Prof. Wanjohi tried to assure the lawmakers that corrective measures are being implemented. But for many, her promises ring hollow.
The Committee’s chairman, Hon. Haji, summed up the sentiment in the room: “Kenyatta University has shown a disturbing lack of commitment to following the law and ensuring equal opportunities for all Kenyans. This institution needs to take a long, hard look at itself.”
Foreign Workers: Questionable hiring practices raise eyebrows.
-Aging Professors: Employment of staff well past retirement age sparks outrage.
Diversity Failures: Ethnic imbalance and inadequate PLWD representation come under sharp criticism.
Kenyatta University may have thought it could fly under the radar, but the Committee’s revelations have thrown the institution into the spotlight, leaving many wondering whether it’s time for a major overhaul.
