By Our Reporter
The National Employment Authority (NEA), mandated to empower Kenya’s millions of unemployed youth, finds itself under increasing scrutiny following a scathing indictment from the Capital Youths Caucus Association of Kenya.
The youth group, in solidarity with human rights defenders and stakeholders, has expressed deep concern over what it describes as an “alarming state” within the NEA, citing allegations of rampant nepotism, leadership failure, and a blatant disregard for constitutional principles and ethical governance.
In a press release issued today, the Caucus revealed details purportedly from an internal memo within NEA senior management, painting a picture of serious institutional decay. The allegations range from abuse of office and the suppression of qualified professionals to data breaches and widespread staff disharmony.
The youth association contends that professionalism has been sidelined, and critical functions, particularly the management of labour migration, have been severely mismanaged under the current Director General (DG) and an allegedly inactive Board of Directors.
A key point of contention highlighted by the Caucus is the impending retirement of the current DG on May 24th, 2025, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60. The youth group alleges that there are indications of attempts to illegally extend the DG’s tenure, a move they assert would be a direct violation of the Constitution and Public Service Circular (Ref: OP.CAB.2/1 dated August 5th, 2024).
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the press release states that NEA staff are allegedly lacking basic employment provisions such as medical cover, pensions, and adequate working tools, while favoritism and a culture of secrecy reportedly persist unchecked.
The Capital Youths Caucus Association emphasized that this crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing demands from young Kenyans, particularly Generation Z, for all public servants who have reached retirement age to step down – a sentiment recently echoed in a presidential directive.
In response to these serious allegations, the youth group has issued a firm 7-day ultimatum, demanding immediate action on the following:
Ensuring the DG retires on the scheduled date of May 24th, 2025.
Demanding decisive intervention from the Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary for Labour.
Dissolving or undertaking a comprehensive restructuring of the NEA Board of Directors.
Initiating a transparent and constitutionally sound leadership transition process.
The Association warned that failure to meet these demands within the stipulated timeframe will result in the pursuit of legal action, widespread civic mobilization, and engagement with both local oversight bodies and international partners.
“Kenya’s youth deserve transparent and ethical institutions that genuinely serve their interests,” the statement read. “The National Employment Authority, an entity crucial for our future, must be rescued from this quagmire immediately.”
Auditor General’s Reports Previously Flagged Internal Weaknesses
The concerns raised by the youth group echo findings from previous Auditor General’s reports presented to the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture.
Scrutiny of financial years 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021 revealed significant internal control weaknesses, including a lack of segregation of duties where procurement and accounting were handled by a single individual, and the absence of a comprehensive information technology (IT) policy.
Responding to these queries before the parliamentary committee, the then Acting Director General of the NEA, Ms. Edith Okoki, cited insufficient budgetary allocations and a lack of adequate staffing as major constraints hindering the institution’s effectiveness. She explained that staff shortages, partly due to delays in salary structure approval, led to individual employees handling multiple responsibilities.
The committee also highlighted shortcomings in budget control and performance, with significant unspent funds impacting the Authority’s ability to achieve its objectives.
Current DG Found in Contempt of Court
Adding to the NEA’s woes, the current Director-General, Ms. Edith Okoki, was recently found to be in contempt of court for disobeying an order to renew the registration certificate of an employment broker.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court summoned her for mitigation and sentencing after she failed to comply with the court order, despite the agency having lodged a notice of appeal. Justice James Rika of the court expressed his shock at a government agency seemingly disregarding a court order, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law.
The combined weight of the youth group’s allegations, the Auditor General’s previous findings of internal weaknesses, and the recent contempt of court ruling against the Director-General paints a concerning picture of an institution facing significant governance and operational challenges.
The coming week will be critical in determining whether the government will respond to the ultimatum issued by the Capital Youths Caucus Association and take decisive action to address the alleged issues plaguing the National Employment Authority.