MPs question slow action on diversity at Anti-Counterfeit Authority

A parliamentary committee has put the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) under pressure over its slow progress in correcting workforce diversity gaps flagged in a previous audit.

The Committee on Implementation, chaired by MP Raphael Wanjala, criticised ACA for failing to fully act on recommendations made in a 2023 report by the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee, which exposed imbalances in ethnic, gender, and disability representation at the agency.

"You have subjected people with disability to (sic) the same requirements and expecting to improve their representation at the Authority," said Hon. Lilian Siyoi of Trans Nzoia County, as MPs expressed disappointment over ACA’s failure to meet the constitutional threshold for inclusivity.

The June 2023 report had revealed that only 16 out of Kenya’s 46 ethnic groups were represented at the Authority.

It also found that senior management was made up of individuals from just nine communities, and that only 0.9% of the workforce consisted of persons with disabilities, far below the 5% constitutional requirement.

Appearing before the committee, ACA Chief Executive Officer Robi Njoroge claimed the Authority had expanded representation to 19 ethnic groups and described this as progress.

However, MPs were not convinced that these efforts matched the seriousness of the House's recommendations.

"You need to be a bit strategic in your recruitment policy if you’re to meet this constitutional imperative," said Haro Abdul of Mandera South.

In its 2023 recommendations, the House had directed the ACA to widen the reach of its job advertisements to target more ethnic groups and persons with disabilities.

It also called for partnership with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and encouraged internal promotions to balance gender at senior levels.

Wanjala questioned ACA’s failure to address the gender imbalance in leadership.

"Why is it taking you too long to get equal representation of ladies at the management level, yet you don’t have to wait for a fresh recruitment to do so?" he asked.

He urged the ACA to promote qualified women already in service, rather than rely solely on new hiring.

The committee further pressed ACA to show proof that it had employed affirmative action measures, as required under Article 232 of the Constitution, which emphasises equal opportunity in public service appointments.

Despite Njoroge’s assurance that ACA was committed to promoting diversity, lawmakers insisted that more needed to be done.

They demanded evidence of change, particularly in employing persons with disabilities, gender equality, and ensuring representation of all ethnic communities.

The CEO pledged to continue implementing the required changes and keep the committee updated.

"We are committed to upholding the principles of national cohesion and equal opportunity as enshrined in the constitution,"  Njoroge said in his closing remarks.

Chairperson MP Wanjala directed the Authority to submit a detailed progress report within six months, indicating the exact steps taken to implement all House resolutions.