The Cohesion Committee Tuesday turned away the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) for failing to adequately respond to concerns over disparities in the Authority’s staff establishment.
CEO Mr. Richard Omelu was asked to go and prepare sufficiently during a heated session that was chaired by Hon. Yussuf Haji at the new Bunge Towers.
Mr. Omelu was taken to task over failure to comply with the law that requires balance in employment of staff from various ethnic communities.
“The report you have tabled before the Committee shows glaring imbalance in distribution of employment slots among ethnic communities in the country,” Hon. Haji stated.
The report indicated that EPZA has only employed staff from 16 out of 47 ethnic communities in Kenya.
The CEO was accused of discrimination against youths after it was revealed that only 38 young people have secured employment out of 173 staff, translating to only 21.97 percent.
On People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), the Vice Chairperson Hon Liza Chelule noted with concern that they were not adequately represented in staff establishment of the Authority.
“Why is it that out of 173 staff, PLWDs have a representation of only 3.46 percent against at least five percent required by the law?” posed the Nakuru County MP.
She added that the report showed that EPZA was not sensitive to PLWDs as she asked the CEO to ensure that he complies with the law on the same.
