Members of Parliament have called for the postponement of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ranger recruitment exercise that is set to commence next week.
This comes after Taity MP, Hon. William Kamket had requested for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee of Wildlife and Tourism on the process of recruitment of Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) Rangers.
“Honourable Speaker, I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife on why the KWS was conducting recruitment at the county level as opposed to sub-county level which will help to alleviate travel costs for the potential recruits. I also request for a statement on whether it is possible to relocate the recruitment venues to the sub-county level?” enquired Hon. Kamket.
Members of Parliament in echoing Hon. Kamket’s concerns, called for the postponement of the exercise until a suitable formula is in place to ensure that the exercise is conducted in a manner that will guarantee equity across the country.
The Leader of the Minority Party and Ugunja MP, Hon Opiyo Wandayi asked for the exercise to be suspended with immediate effect.
“As a house, we do not want to be seen as we are micro managing the executive. However this matter requires some unique intervention” Stated Hon. Wandayi
He added, “This matter should be suspended with immediate effect so that the recruitment can meet the expectation of Kenyans. If left as is, young Kenyans will be forced to travel abnormal distances just to receive an equal opportunity.”
Kikuyu MP, and Leader of the Majority Party Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah stated, “Punishing unemployed young Kenyans by forcing them to travel long distances just to seek employment is not something that we should be doing as a country.”
He further called for the recruitment exercise to be done at the constituency level to allow parliament to perform its oversite function on the entire recruitment process.
“This exercise should be held at the constituency level and not at the county level so that we can ensure that there is fairness in the exercise. We do not want to see cases of non-residents masquerading as local youth and taking up opportunities set aside for youth in the assigned recruitment areas.” Hon. Ichung’wah added.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Gladys Boss guided the Chairperson of the Committee of Wildlife and Tourism to invite the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife as soon as possible to address the concerns raised by the Members of the House.
