Disquiet has gripped the National Land Commission over the qualifications of 150 workers.
In September last year, the commission started hiring more than 150 staff at a cost of Sh30 million for its 11 directorates.
Two directors, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Star the hiring criteria are being questioned.
Many recruits lack knowledge and expertise in the land sector, they said.
“Between November 25 and December 5 last year, every directorate was in Machakos University to shortlist candidates. They came up with a list of 467 out of more than 2,000 applications,” a source familiar with the recruitment told the Star.
Between March 23 and April 2, the team met at the Kenya Bankers Sacco on Third Avenue Ngong Road to interview the shortlisted candidates.
A director who sought anonymity said they concluded interviews and forwarded the best two candidates to the secretariat.
“Surprisingly, from June to last month, we have been receiving new staff in our directorates – different from those we picked. Some have been sent to serve in jobs they never applied for and have no skills for.”
The director said 54 interns, who have been serving the commission since 2013, have been hired instead of the candidates who were interviewed.
Another director said: “To us these are poor HR practices tantamount to undermining any meaningful land reforms as staff being hired are not adequately skilled.”
NLC chief executive officer Tom Chavangi said the commission accurately portrays the face of Kenya.