The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed government institutions to comply with the legal requirement that at least five per cent of their workforce be persons living with disabilities, faulting State agencies for continued non-compliance.
The committee, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, raised concerns that many public institutions are still violating the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003, which requires both public and private employers to reserve at least five per cent of jobs for persons with disabilities.
The issue emerged during the committee’s examination of the Auditor-General’s report for the 2023/2024 financial year on the accounts of the National Lands Commission (NLC).
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According to the audit report, only seven out of the Commission’s 628 employees, about one per cent of its workforce, are persons with disabilities.
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The Auditor-General further noted that none of the 99 employees recruited during the period under review was a person living with a disability.
“Government agencies should be at the forefront in ensuring that people living with disabilities are part of the workforce, as required by the law. There is no excuse,” Mwale said.
Appearing before the committee, NLC Chief Executive Officer Kabale Tache acknowledged the Commission had failed to meet the statutory threshold.
“Out of 628 employees, only seven are individuals with disabilities, and we recognize that this is significantly below the required threshold. We are actively working to address this matter,” she told MPs.
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Tache attributed the shortfall to historical staffing challenges and a limited number of applications from qualified persons with disabilities during previous recruitment exercises.
However, committee members rejected the explanation, insisting that Kenya has many qualified persons with disabilities seeking employment and that the Commission had failed to take adequate measures to meet its legal obligations.
The legislators urged the NLC to emulate institutions such as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which has partnered with organisations representing persons with disabilities during recruitment to enhance inclusivity and meet the required quota.
Earlier in the day, the committee also questioned Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar over issues raised by the Auditor-General in the State Department for Transport’s 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 audit reports.
The PAC said all government agencies must demonstrate commitment to inclusive employment by complying with the law and ensuring equal opportunities for persons living with disabilities.
